The Burmese military launched a coup to seize power on January 1, and a large number of people have taken to the streets in recent days to demonstrate against the coup. Security forces in northern Myanmar opened fire on a group of demonstrators today and at least five journalists were arrested, while armored vehicles were seen in Yangon and other cities after dark.
Myanmar’s military government has recently stepped up its efforts to quell a rapidly growing civil disobedience movement whose supporters are demanding the release of former substantive leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
At a power plant in Myitkyina, northern Burma, soldiers fired tear gas and shot at protesters outside the plant. A journalist at the scene said it was unclear how many people had been injured.
The journalist added, “We don’t know if the police used rubber bullets or live ammunition.”
A local media outlet in the city of Myitkyina noted that police subsequently arrested at least five journalists who were reporting from the scene.
Armored vehicles were seen on the streets of Yangon, a large Burmese city, this evening, and video has since been circulated on social media showing other troop deployments.
The U.S., British and European Union (EU) ambassadors issued a joint statement urging Burmese security forces to refrain from harming civilians.
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