The Myanmar military junta carried out widespread killings, violence, and human rights abuses during and after the February 1, 2021, coup. These atrocities were part of their brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, political dissidents, and ethnic minorities. Here is a detailed account of how the junta killed people during this period:
1. Use of Lethal Force on Protesters
The military and police frequently used live ammunition to disperse peaceful protests against the coup. They targeted unarmed civilians, including women and children.
- Example:
- On February 28, 2021, the military killed at least 18 protesters across Myanmar in what became the deadliest day since the coup at that time. In Yangon, videos showed security forces shooting into crowds with assault rifles.
- On March 27, 2021 (Armed Forces Day), over 100 civilians were killed in a single day as security forces indiscriminately fired on protests across the country.
2. Arbitrary Killings
The junta’s forces systematically raided neighborhoods known for anti-coup resistance. They indiscriminately shot people on the streets and in their homes.
- Example:
- In Dala Township near Yangon, security forces stormed residential areas at night, firing live rounds and killing anyone suspected of supporting the anti-coup movement.
- In Mandalay, a seven-year-old girl, Khin Myo Chit, was shot dead in her home while sitting on her father’s lap during a military raid.
3. Torture Leading to Death
The junta used torture as a tool to extract confessions or intimidate detainees. Many died from injuries sustained during torture.
- Example:
- In March 2021, Thar Lon Zaung Htet, a journalist, was tortured to death while in military custody after being arrested for documenting protests.
- A 19-year-old protester named Ma Kyal Sin, nicknamed “Angel,” was shot in the head during a protest. Reports later indicated that she might have been beaten before being shot.
4. Execution of Political Prisoners
The junta reintroduced the use of the death penalty to suppress dissent. Several political prisoners were executed in secret trials.
- Example:
- In July 2022, the junta executed four pro-democracy activists, including Ko Jimmy (Kyaw Min Yu) and Phyo Zeya Thaw, marking Myanmar’s first executions in decades. These killings sent a chilling message to anti-coup activists.
5. Airstrikes and Artillery Shelling
The military increasingly targeted ethnic minority areas and resistance strongholds with airstrikes, heavy artillery, and indiscriminate bombings.
- Example:
- In Kayah (Karenni) State, airstrikes on refugee camps killed dozens of civilians, including women and children, in December 2021.
- In Sagaing Region, the military bombarded villages, killing scores of residents and forcing thousands to flee.
6. Targeting Ethnic Minorities
The junta intensified its attacks on ethnic minority groups, many of whom have long faced systemic oppression. Ethnic armed organizations resisting the coup were labeled as enemies, and entire villages were destroyed.
- Example:
- In Chin State, the junta burned homes and executed villagers suspected of aiding resistance groups.
- In Rakhine State, Rohingya civilians were executed during raids, continuing the long-standing persecution of the ethnic group.
7. Massacres
The military carried out mass killings in villages and towns suspected of harboring anti-coup activists or resistance fighters.
- Example:
- The Hpruso Massacre (December 2021): In Kayah State, the military killed and burned the bodies of at least 35 civilians, including children, who were fleeing violence. Witnesses reported that the victims were bound and shot before their bodies were set on fire.
- In Sagaing Region, several villages were targeted, and mass graves were discovered containing the bodies of men, women, and children executed by the military.
8. Shooting Protesters at Close Range
Security forces often shot protesters at point-blank range or directly targeted their heads and chests to ensure fatal injuries.
- Example:
- In Mandalay, video footage showed soldiers executing a protester by shooting him at close range while he was pleading for his life.
- In Yangon’s Hlaing Thar Yar Township, dozens of protesters were killed when security forces fired live ammunition into crowds during a crackdown.
9. Killing Medics and Humanitarian Workers
The military targeted healthcare workers who treated injured protesters, raided hospitals, and killed medics providing emergency aid.
- Example:
- A doctor in Mandalay was shot and killed while treating a protester on the street. Several other medics were beaten or detained during similar incidents.
10. Targeted Assassinations
Prominent activists, community leaders, and individuals associated with the resistance movement were singled out and assassinated by the junta or its agents.
- Example:
- Prominent labor union leader Thet Naing Win was gunned down in his home after organizing anti-coup protests.
- Community leaders in rural areas who supported resistance fighters were often murdered in public to instill fear.
11. Burning People Alive
One of the junta’s most horrifying tactics was burning civilians alive, often as part of collective punishment.
- Example:
- In Sagaing Region, villagers reported cases where military forces rounded up civilians, tied them together, and set them on fire.
- Witnesses in Magway Region described incidents where entire families were burned alive in their homes during military raids.
12. Use of Snipers
The military used snipers positioned on rooftops to pick off protesters and activists during demonstrations.
- Example:
- Protesters in Yangon and Mandalay reported that many of the fatalities during marches were caused by sniper fire, often targeting those leading the demonstrations or assisting the injured.
Death Toll and Widespread Fear
As of late 2024, human rights organizations estimate that more than 4,000 people have been killed by the junta since the coup, with many more injured or disappeared. The actual death toll is believed to be much higher due to unreported killings in rural and conflict-affected areas.
These atrocities have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, seek refuge in neighboring countries, or join armed resistance movements. The international community has condemned the junta’s actions, but effective intervention remains limited, leaving Burmese civilians to endure ongoing violence and oppression.