Junta government in Myanmar said that the protest campaign against it was dwindling as people want peace and that it would hold elections in two years, the first time frame it has been given to return to democracy since the February 1 coup.
The troops fired a rifle grenade at the anti-coup protesters on Friday in Bago City, near Yangon, witness and news reports reported. At least ten people were killed, and their bodies piled up in the Pagoda corner, they said.
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Several local media outlets said at least 20 people were killed and many injured. They said it was impossible to get the right victim count as the military troops had cordoned off areas near Pagoda. Junta spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said at a press conference in Naypyitaw that the country returned to normal. He further added that government ministries and banks would soon continue the whole operation.
Security forces killed more than 600 people to protest against the coup, according to activist groups. The south Asian country has landed in a stand-still situation because of protest campaigns and widespread strikes against the military government.
“The reason for reducing protests is because of the cooperation of people who want peace, which we appreciate,” said Zaw Min Tun. “We asked people to work with security forces and help them.” He said the military had recorded 248 deaths, and he denied that automatic weapons were used. Sixteen police officers have also been killed, he said.
Association of Assistance for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group said 614 people, including 48 children, had been killed by security forces since the coup. More than 2,800 were arrested, he said. “Their courage and dignity humble us,” a group of 18 ambassadors in the country spoke about the protesters in a shared statement.
