• Fri. Apr 19th, 2024

Myanmar Police Fire Rubber Bullets as Protesters Defy Ban

Police in Myanmar have fired rubber bullets during a demonstration in the capital Nay Pyi Taw, as thousands defied a ban on protests.

Water cannon and tear gas have also been used against protesters, but reports of live bullet usage are unconfirmed.

One woman is in hospital in a critical condition with a head wound.

Protesters are standing against a military coup that removed the elected government last week.

It is the fourth day of consecutive protests. A ban on large public gatherings and night-time curfews has been instigated in some cities, with military leader Min Aung Hlaing warning that no-one is above the law.

The demonstrators have been demanding the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, along with senior leaders of her National League for Democracy Party (NLD). She was arrested when the military seized power. 

The army has declared a year-long state of emergency and claimed, without evidence, that an earlier election was fraudulent.

BBC