Burmese Army Fire on Innocent Civilians

Burmese Army Fire on Innocent Civilians

Yesterday the Burmese military junta once again demonstrated its willingness to hold onto power at any cost.

In Rangoon the gates to the Shwedagon Pagoda were locked and guarded by hundreds of soldiers to deny access to the monks, who were assembling for another mass protest.

Despite the enormous risk, thousands of monks and civilians gathered outside and began to pray. Tear gas was fired into the crowd and a baton charge ensued.

Soldiers quickly moved in on the crowd and began beating monks and civilians indiscriminately with riot batons. The civilians did their best to defend the monks, but many sustained minor head wounds.

Eyewitness reports claim that one person was shot dead and four others critically injured.

The victims were sitting outside a cafe near the Shwedagon Pagoda, watching the protest develop, when they were fired upon from a military vehicle in a random drive-by shooting.

ENDS

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