Myanmar Police Used Stun Grenades to Disperse Demonstrators
OREANDA-NEWS. Myanmar police used stun grenades to disperse demonstrators who took to the streets of Yangon to protest against the military coup that took place on February 1, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, March 2.
«If we are suppressed, there will be an explosion. If we are hit, we will respond», activists chanted in one of the city's neighborhoods, before police intervened and fired stun grenades.
According to The Guardian, demonstrators gathered in different parts of the capital, using barricades as cover. Some of the protesters took safety glasses and homemade shields with them. Authorities detained more than 1,000 people over the weekend, according to the Associated Press News. At least seven journalists were among those detained, including Thein Zaw of the Associated Press.
Since the beginning of the demonstrations in the country, 21 protesters and one police officer have been killed, writes The Guardian. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the ASEAN foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Myanmar via video link. Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said, that the ASEAN ministers will call on the Myanmar military to prevent violence. The day before, he also said, that Singapore would facilitate dialogue between the military and the detained Myanmar state councilor Aung San Suu Kyi, whose release is demanded by many protesters.
Over the weekend, the military used brutal methods to suppress peaceful protest demonstrations. It was noted, that the police fired a weapon at a crowd of protesters in Yangon, Tavole, Mandalay, Mae, Bago and Pakkoku. Tear gas and stun grenades were also used.
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