At least five protesters were killed across Myanmar on Monday as demonstrators returned to the streets after the deadliest day since the military seized power on February 1.
At least 44 protesters were killed on Sunday as forces continued crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations, taking the death toll since the coup to more than 120, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group.
The forces killed the protesters in two locations and witnesses said the junta was using lethal force against demonstrators.
Two men were shot dead and six others were injured, a witness in Magway region’s Aunglan town said and added that one of the dead was shot in the chest.
The bulk of the deaths on Sunday occurred in a clash in a garment-producing district in Yangon where many Chinese-owned factories were razed.
Despite Sunday’s high death toll, protesters returned to the streets on Monday but by afternoon fatalities were also reported in the central city of Myingyan.
News of the violence came out in the afternoon due to internet blockage across Myanmar as junta cancelled a scheduled video court appearance by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The hearing was scheduled for 10am in capital Naypyidaw, but it was postponed until March 24, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said.
“There’s no court hearing because there’s no internet,” he said.
