Security forces killed at least 14 protesters in a poor, industrial suburb of Myanmar’s main city yesterday, and at least three people in other parts of the country, according to local media.
State television said a police officer had also been killed in one of the bloodiest days of protests against the February 1 coup.
China’s embassy has meanwhile called on Myanmar to protect its property and citizens after saying that two Chinese-financed garment factories were set ablaze by unknown attackers.
Protests are now in their sixth week since the coup toppled elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the Southeast Asian country into turmoil, with the economy paralysed by strikes by opponents of the army takeover.
Security forces opened fire on protesters in the Hlaingthaya district of the city, a poor suburb that is home to migrants from across the country, domestic media said.
Plumes of black smoke rose over the area.
Myanmar Now said at least 14 protesters had been killed, according to the local hospital and a rescue worker.
“An official from Hlaingthaya Hospital said the death toll and wounded were still arriving,” its report said.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group however said that security forces killed at least 38 people yesterday, 22 of them in the Hlaingtharyar.
The higher death toll would equal that of March 3, which had previously recorded more deaths than any other day.
A doctor at a private hospital treating the injured confirmed the use of both live rounds and rubber bullets.
Another doctor on the ground told AFP at least three had died – corroborating local media outlet The Irrawaddy – but said the death toll is expected to climb.
“Three died in front of me while I was giving treatment. I’m sending another two to hospital. That’s all I can say at this moment,” she told AFP, in between giving orders to her aides to inject medicine.
“I cannot talk much – the injured people keep coming,” she said before hanging up.
State television MRTV said martial law had been imposed in the district.
A junta spokesman did not answer calls requesting comment.
Doctor Sasa, a representative of elected lawmakers from the assembly that was ousted by the army, voiced solidarity with the people of the district.
“The perpetrators, attackers, enemies of the people of Myanmar, the evil SAC (State Administrative Council) will be held accountable for every drops of blood that shed,” he said in a message.
At least three deaths were reported elsewhere in Myanmar yesterday, including in the second city of Mandalay and in Bago, where state television MRTV said a police officer had died of a chest wound after a confrontation with protesters.
He is the second police officer reported dead in the protests.
The latest deaths would bring the toll from the protests to nearly 100 while the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group had said more than 2,100 had also been arrested by Saturday.
The violence came a day after Mahn Win Khaing Than, who is on the run along with most senior officials from the Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party, said the civilian government would seek to give people the legal right to defend themselves.
Suu Kyi is due to return to court today.
She faces at least four charges, including the illegal use of walkie-talkie radios and infringing coronavirus protocols.
The army said it took power after its accusations of fraud in a November 8 election won by Suu Kyi’s party were rejected by the electoral commission.
It has promised to hold a new election, but has not set a date.
People run past makeshift barricades set up by protesters, during a crackdown by security forces on demonstrations against the military coup, in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar township.
