Myanmar saw at least 14 more violent deaths on Wednesday as the regime’s forces cracked down on anti-regime protesters from dawn to dusk in Sagaing Region in the country’s northwest and Bago Region in the central part of the country. The death toll now totals at least 596 since the Feb. 1 coup.

At least 11 protesters died when regime forces opened fire on roadblocks set up by anti-regime protesters in Sagaing Region’s Kale (Kalay) Township about 5 a.m. Wednesday. Protesters were manning the roadblock.

Kale residents resisted the violent assault with homemade firearms, but they were outgunned. More than a dozen were wounded while some 18 people, including the bystanders, were arrested.

Regime forces arrest anti-coup protesters during a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Kale, Sagaing Region on Wednesday morning./CJ

The regime’s state-run Myawaddy TV reported Wednesday evening that three stun grenades exploded in that incident, one near the housing, a second one in a garbage bin and a third one on the windshield of a parked car.

Three other explosions reportedly occurred near the Yangon’s Hluttaw compound in Dagon Township when three grenades were thrown, the regime’s TV station reported.

Another two explosions occurred at the Sanchaung Township administration office and under the Myaynigone Flyover bridge in the township.

Some vehicles near the administration office received damage.

In addition, stun grenades were reported to have exploded at the Myanmar Plaza shopping mall in Bahan Township and near the eight miles junction in Mayangone Township. Those blasts came after an explosion occurred at the Myanmar Port Authority office at Yangon’s Kyauktada Township on Wednesday morning.

Those responsible for the explosions remain unknown.

Stun grenades exploded at the Myanmar Port Authority office in Yangon’s Kyauktada Township on Wednesday.

On Myanmar’s most popular social media platform, Facebook, people voiced their suspicions about who might be behind the attacks, given the locations of some of the blasts.

Located in the vicinity of former War Office, which is still occupied by the military, and other army-related buildings, the cantonment on Ziwaka Street was believed to be impregnable.

Many people have expressed suspicions that the regime arranged the blasts as a pretext to escalate the crackdown on anti-regime protesters who have been accused by military coup leaders of destabilizing the country.

The regime claims nightly via state-run TV that “rioters”—the military’s euphemism for anti-regime protesters—are attacking government offices, local level administration offices and police stations.

On Tuesday afternoon, a bus owned by the military regime was damaged by an explosion while it was being parked at the compound of a bus terminal owned by the regime at Yangon’s South Oakkalap Township.

Last week, two military-owned shopping malls in Yangon-—one downtown and another in the northern part of city—burned down during curfew hours when no civilians were not allowed to be out.

Following the February coup, more than two dozen government offices, local administration offices and police stations in the country had been attacked.

Amid the daily deadly crackdowns and arrests, tens of thousands of people across Myanmar have taken to the streets to show their defiance of military regime.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 590 people have been killed by the military regime during their lethal crackdowns, shootings and raids against the anti-regime protests, bystanders, pedestrians and residents.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/deaths-protesters-bystanders-push-myanmar-toll-least-596.html

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 Series of Explosions Rock at Least Seven Locations in Myanmar’s Largest City

A series of explosions rocked at least seven locations in Yangon, including state-owned offices, a military cantonment area and a shopping mall, on Wednesday.

Three explosions occurred in the early morning in a cantonment area near the Shwedagon Pagoda, in Yangon’s Dagon Township, where the families of military personnel are housed.

A witness told The Irrawaddy that the blasts came from stun grenades that had been put on a vehicle on Ziwaka Street in front of the housing unit. Although the vehicle received minor damage, no heavy damage to the surrounding area was reported.

The regime’s state-run Myawaddy TV reported Wednesday evening that three stun grenades exploded in that incident, one near the housing, a second one in a garbage bin and a third one on the windshield of a parked car.

Three other explosions reportedly occurred near the Yangon’s Hluttaw compound in Dagon Township when three grenades were thrown, the regime’s TV station reported.

Another two explosions occurred at the Sanchaung Township administration office and under the Myaynigone Flyover bridge in the township.

Some vehicles near the administration office received damage.

In addition, stun grenades were reported to have exploded at the Myanmar Plaza shopping mall in Bahan Township and near the eight miles junction in Mayangone Township. Those blasts came after an explosion occurred at the Myanmar Port Authority office at Yangon’s Kyauktada Township on Wednesday morning.

Those responsible for the explosions remain unknown.

On Myanmar’s most popular social media platform, Facebook, people voiced their suspicions about who might be behind the attacks, given the locations of some of the blasts.

Located in the vicinity of former War Office, which is still occupied by the military, and other army-related buildings, the cantonment on Ziwaka Street was believed to be impregnable.

Many people have expressed suspicions that the regime arranged the blasts as a pretext to escalate the crackdown on anti-regime protesters who have been accused by military coup leaders of destabilizing the country.

The regime claims nightly via state-run TV that “rioters”—the military’s euphemism for anti-regime protesters—are attacking government offices, local level administration offices and police stations.

On Tuesday afternoon, a bus owned by the military regime was damaged by an explosion while it was being parked at the compound of a bus terminal owned by the regime at Yangon’s South Oakkalap Township.

Last week, two military-owned shopping malls in Yangon-—one downtown and another in the northern part of city—burned down during curfew hours when no civilians were not allowed to be out.

Following the February coup, more than two dozen government offices, local administration offices and police stations in the country had been attacked.

Amid the daily deadly crackdowns and arrests, tens of thousands of people across Myanmar have taken to the streets to show their defiance of military regime.

As of Wednesday morning, more than 590 people have been killed by the military regime during their lethal crackdowns, shootings and raids against the anti-regime protests, bystanders, pedestrians and residents.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/series-explosions-rock-least-seven-locations-myanmars-largest-city.html

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 Myanmar Regime Detains Medics and Elected MPs

Two pediatricians, two elected National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarians and a popular comedian were detained on Tuesday by Myanmar’s junta as it clamps down on the anti-regime movement.

The security forces violently abducted pediatricians Dr. Kyaw Htin Win and Dr. Lin Su Nay Win during a protest by health care staff in Mandalay, where more dawn protests were planned on Tuesday.

Regime’s forces violently abducted two pediatricians on early Tuesday morning. / CJ

Soldiers and police opened fire on the medical protesters and their families, who were gathering at around 5:30am ahead of their daily dawn protest against the military regime.

Another doctor was shot in the hand, according to a protesting doctor.

Despite the violence, several other protests continued in the city.

At noon U Aye Khaing, an elected lawmaker for Kyaukpadaung Township in Mandalay Region, and an NLD executive committee member, was detained when he briefly visited his home.

U Ye Kyaw Thwin, the MP for Mawlamyinegyun Township in Ayeyarwady Region, was also detained while in hiding. His uncle, who was with him, was also reportedly detained.

Zarganar, a comedian also known as Maung Thura, was detained at his home in Tamwe Township, Yangon Region. No reason has been given for his abduction.

The military regime issues extensive daily lists of arrest warrants for cultural critics. More than 120 artists, celebrities, prominent figures, social-media personalities and journalists now face incitement charges and are in hiding.

Health-care staff in Mandalay staged a dawn protest against the military regime on April 1. / CJ

Beauty blogger Win Min Than, who added to the list on Tuesday, was detained by troops at a hotel in Taunggyi, Shan State, where she and her mother were staying.

By Wednesday morning, the regime has killed at least 587 people, including more than 40 children, and detained around 3,000 people.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regime-detains-medics-elected-mps.html

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 Myanmar Junta Accused of Extra-Judicial Executions and Human Rights Abuses

The committee representing elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government has received 180,000 items of evidence detailing extra-judicial executions and the widespread use of lethal force on peaceful protesters by the Myanmar military regime since their Feb.1 coup.

In the statement the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) said that the evidence reveals wide-ranging human rights abuses by the junta, including more than 540 extra-judicial executions, over 10 deaths in custody of political prisoners and the torture of prisoners.

Moreover, the CPRH said the evidence shows also that the military regime has employed the widespread use of deadly force towards peaceful protesters. Other disproportionate responses towards the anti-coup protests include breach of the right to peaceful assembly, widespread illegal detentions, the targeting of media companies and the arrest of journalists and photographers, as well as restricting access to the internet and other actions to limit free speech on the internet.

Civilians beaten and arrested by the regime’s security forces during a crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Monywa, Sagaing Region in February. /CJ

On Wednesday, legal representatives from the CRPH are set to meet with the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), a United Nations body with the mandate to collect, preserve and analyze evidence of serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011. It also has a mandate to prepare files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings, in national, regional or international courts or tribunals.

The CRPH has hired London-based international law firm Volterra Fietta as a legal representative. The firm will advise on international legal proceedings against those responsible for violently cracking down on pro-democracy protesters and armed aggression against democratic representatives.

Volterra Fietta specializes in international law and has experience at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and other global courts.

In the statement, the CRPH said that their representatives will meet the IIMM to discuss cooperation relating to the atrocities committed by the military since its takeover.

Regime forces arrest anti-coup protesters during a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Kale, Sagaing Region on Wednesday morning./CJ

As of Tuesday, at least 581 civilians including 43 children have been killed by the regime’s forces during the crackdown on peaceful protesters across Myanmar, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP). The death toll had risen to 587 on Wednesday morning, following a series of armed attacks by the regime’s security forces in several townships around the country on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Several people, including three NLD members, have been tortured and killed while in custody. At least 2,750 people have been detained by the military since the coup, including politicians, activists, protesters and journalists.

In early March, Amnesty International said that the military has been using battle tactics against peaceful anti-coup protesters and bystanders. Its evidence lab confirmed that the security forces appeared to be implementing planned, systematic strategies, including the ramped-up use of lethal force. Many of the killings documented amount to extrajudicial executions, Amnesty said.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-accused-extra-judicial-executions-human-rights-abuses.html

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 At Least Five Protesters Killed as Junta Launches Heavy Crackdown in Kale

At least five protesters were killed and more than 20 injured when Myanmar junta forces opened fire on a roadblock set up by anti-regime protesters as part of their defense line in Kale Township, Sagaing Region at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday.

Protesters are manning the roadblock day and night in Tahan ward. It was set up to deter police and soldiers from entering Kale.

Before the dawn crackdown, more than a dozen military trucks arrived in Kale on Tuesday, residents said. They said the Tahan roadblock was fired on with live ammunition, including rifle grenades and other explosives fired from launchers.

A soldier is seen in Kale Township, Sagaing Region on April 7 during an attack on anti-regime protesters. / Supplied.

A protester at the Tahan roadblock, who asked not to be named, told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday morning that “five protesters died on the spot after being hit with heavy weapons when they raided our protest camp at 5 a.m.”

A rescue worker said three bodies were sent to the morgue at the public hospital, while two were sent to a military hospital on the regime forces’ orders. “We were told that the bodies would be returned to the families after they can be contacted,” he said.

Another resident who saw one of the bodies said, “One protester died after being struck in the neck, and his face was badly wounded too. It looked like he was hit by shrapnel. More than 20 people have been injured. Many were hit, but we have not been able to verify all the deaths yet.”

Residents expected more fatalities and said several clinics in the town had been raided by junta forces.

An earlier crackdown by regime forces in Tahan ward on March 28 killed five protesters. Since then, residents have tried to defend themselves using traditional homemade percussion-lock firearms.

A scene in downtown Kale, Sagaing Region on the morning of April 7 after anti-regime protesters were cracked down on by police and soldiers. / Supplied

Since last week, residents of villages and towns in several townships in Sagaing Region including Kale, Yinmabin, Pinlebu and Tamu have defended themselves against the regime forces’ brutal crackdowns. They have blocked junta forces from entering Kale, where residents have used the homemade firearms against junta forces.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 7 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/least-five-protesters-killed-junta-launches-heavy-crackdown-kale.html

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 Myanmar Regime’s Thugs Target Doctors and Clinics Aiding the Wounded

Early Saturday morning, troops of Myanmar’s military regime stormed into a doctor’s home in Mayangone Township of Yangon region and arbitrarily arrested the physician. His hands were tied behind his back, a black bag was put over his head and he was dragged away from his residence by soldiers and police, according to a witness.

The arrested man was orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kyaw Min Soe, a professor at University of Medicine, Yangon, who has been involved in the civil disobedience movement (CDM).

As they abducted the doctor, the soldiers and police swore at residents, destroyed closed-circuit TV cameras and threatened those present with guns. “Who dared to take the picture?” they asked.

“The way they arrested Sayargyi [a respected professor] is totally unacceptable. He was arrested like a criminal,” a doctor close to Dr. Kyaw Min Soe said.

Regime forces violently arrested Dr. Kyaw Min Soe from his home on the early morning of April 3. (Photo: CJ)

The professor had been providing medical treatment to those injured in anti-regime protests. Some assumed that he was targeted because of that.

Some speculated it may also have been because of his close relationship with Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, a prominent figure in the CDM who has been appointed as an acting minister of three ministries by the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), Myanmar’s shadow government.

Doctors and healthcare workers who walked off the job as part of the CDM set up charity clinics for those needed emergency treatment and went undercover to treat patients wounded during crackdowns on anti-regime protests. Many public hospitals are closed because of the CDM. The popular movement was launched by medics and was later followed by other government workers nationwide, refusing to work under the men in uniform in an effort to make the country impossible for the regime to govern.

Frustrated with the failure of their violent crackdown to deter people from protesting, soldiers and police have started using lethal force in search of protesters to arrest, dragging them out of hiding and beat them before taking them away.

Mobile medical teams and secret medical clinics giving treatment to wounded anti-regime demonstrators have been increasingly targeted with violence and arrests.

On Monday, soldiers and police raided a charity clinic in Sanchaung Township and arrested four volunteer medical staff members: Dr. Aung Kyaw Oo, Dr. Soe San Phyo, Dr. Chan Myae Zaw, and Ma Khin Su Su Tun. They also arrested five other volunteers.

On Friday, Dr. Nay Myo, a physician providing free medical treatment, was detained by plainclothes police in Bago region, after leaving his clinic.

“They were arrested while treating the patients. Is it a crime for doctors and nurses to save patients’ lives?” a doctor wrote on her Facebook account, calling for the immediate release of the detained medics.

A number of healthcare facilities in several areas including in Yangon and Mandalay were also raided and attacked last month.

One doctor, speaking anonymously to protect his security, told The Irrawaddy that regardless of the threats posed against them, the medics will continue their work helping those in need of treatment.

Regime’s forces arrested protesting medical university students. (Photo: CJ)

“If we don’t cure the patients who else will cure them? The soldiers blocked the hospitals to prevent from reopening and accepting the wounded anti-regime protesters. [They] raided and harassed the healthcare facilities. We can’t accept that. We won’t stop what we are doing whatever they threaten,” he said.

At least 11 other striking doctors—including Dr. Than Min Htut (Pindaya Mee Eain Shin), administrator of Pathein Township Hospital, Dr Pyae Phyo Naing, a doctor at Maezale Gone hospital, and Dr. Wai Wai Aye, a senior consultant chest physician—were arrested over the past two months. Many of them are still being held in detention.

Several medical students and medical affiliated university students were also detained by the regime for their active participation in anti-coup protests.

Soldiers and police raided a charity clinic in Sanchaung Township, Yangon, on April 5. They arrested medical volunteers and seized emergency medical equipment.

The regime has also issued warrants for a number of prominent doctors in the CDM, including Dr. Zaw Wai Soe, Dr. Khin Maung Lwin who is the rector of the University of Medicine Mandalay and Dr. Wai Wai Oo, the superintendent of a 300-bed hospital in Mandalay.

Hundreds of doctors who are actively involved in the CDM or leading the movement have gone into hiding to evade arrest.

Four of those killed by the regime’s forces.

A 17-year-old first year medical student Khant Nyar Hein in Yangon, a doctor Phyo Thant Wai in Mandalay, an assistant surgeon Dr. Thiha Tin Tun in Mandalay, and a 20-year-old nursing student Ma Thinzar Hein in Sagaing are among the estimated 570 people killed by regime forces.

The Irrawaddy

• The Irrawaddy 6 April 2021:
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-regimes-thugs-target-doctors-clinics-aiding-wounded.html

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