JURIST EXCLUSIVE – A Myanmar law professor joins JURIST’s team of law student correspondents on the ground in Myanmar, updating us on the latest developments on Thursday, a day after police and security forces killed dozens of pro-democracy protestors at rallies and demonstrations across the country. Out of respect for our correspondent’s voice, the text as received has been minimally edited for clarity.

The military escalates the oppression of the protestors.

The military security forces killed at least 38 people on 3 March 2021 across the country.  Among them 2 protestors from Mandalay were shot at the corner of 30 street and 84 street while protesting peacefully. They are Ma Kyel Sin, 19 years old (F) and Myo Naing Lin, 39 years old (M). Ma Kyel Sin was shot at head and Myo Naing Lin was shot at chest. 3 protesters in Mandalay are arrested and tortured in public. In addition, 6 people from Monywa, 1 from Myingyan, 1 from Salin, and 1 from Kalay were shot to dead. The deadliest zone was North Okkala Township, Yangon, 16 people were shot at the same day on 3 March 2021. Hundreds of people were wounded and arrested across the country. (The numbers of dead can be changed because there are severed wounded of the people in the critical situation). In the morning on 4 March 2021, Fighter jet flied in the sky in Mandalay. The military forces prepare to crush people who are protesting. The beautiful cities were transformed to be the battle field.

From 2 March 2021, the security forces stop the car, motorcycle and walking people to check mobile phone. People will be arrested if they see the post which is written, commented, like and share or critic against the Military. The whole actions are totally against the Human Rights Law and violates the basic rights of citizen.

The military also attacked [medical] volunteers and a video clip [of one of those attacks] spread on the internet.

Moreover, the security forces raided the office of Obituary (Funeral) Aid Association (Yangon) at night (3 March 2021). The forces took all computers and network accessories, beat the staffs and destroy the property. We found that no Humanitarian Law are observed.

On 4 March 2021, people continue to protest on the street, despite the horrible situation [that has] happened.

To sum up, the security forces keep killing, beating, robbing and kidnapping us day and night. Myanmar people are brave enough to fight against the powerful military forces with bare hand. They have bullets and we have lives and future and hope to fight them back. Currently, no one can stop the military coup to kill the people of Myanmar. Condemnation statements of the world are not effective anymore, it is just a useless paper. ASEAN is not a powerful institution to persuade the coup to stop the violence towards people.

Upon this situation, I would like to give my message to the world leaders and people around the world that Myanmar crisis is not an internal affair since the beginning. It is a crime against humanity. If you all just keep worrying, concerning and disappointing on your seat, the military coup so-called/the terrorists will escalate the violence. I do not see any other means, except military intervention, to end the cruel acts that violate the International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law and the domestic Law of Myanmar as well. I beg for the unity of the world leaders and their effective actions to end the Human Rights violation of the Military coup.