JURIST EXCLUSIVE – Law students filing for JURIST in Myanmar reported a record number of civilian fatalities from police and military action against unarmed civilians Sunday as the UN and various Western embassies and diplomats were reduced to issuing yet more toothless condemnations. The civilian death toll in Myanmar’s largest city was especially severe, with estimates of fatalities there alone running from the high 30s to above 50. Actual death counts were hard to make in the proverbial “fog of war” as some bodies were apparently taken away from security forces, some hospitals were attacked and some families are not yet aware of fatalities.

Late in the day, the Myanmar military junta declared martial law in several Yangon townships, including HlaingTharyar, which seems to have seen the bloodiest treatment of civilians; law students on the ground insisted that this declaration had been encouraged by a statement of the Chinese embasy to Myanmar earlier in the day complaining about damage to its local property interests in a suspicious fire, expressing concerns about Chinese citizens, and calling on “Myanmar people” to show restraint. There were also deaths reported in Mandalay, Bago, and Pharkant, Kachinn State.

One of our correspondents in Mandalay filed this report on developments there Sunday:

Under the name of cracking down a group of violent protesters (Mya Taung protesters: a group led by Buddhist monks and peaceful neighborhood civilians) in Mandalay, terrorist police and soldiers used lethal force to catch protesters after the protest had successfully ended. The protesters do not have any lethal weapons on them, however, the police had justified their use of force by stating that they found deadly weapons from the protesters. Shooting, hurting the passers-by and detaining the civilians started from around noon. It’s obvious from the events of the past two days that the military wanted to terrorize the people. They are not using force with the intention of cracking down the protesters but to kill some of them and spread fear among people. They deliberately tried to catch and shoot people only after the protests have successfully ended.

Now from what I’ve seen with my very eyes at around 3 pm today from the rooftop of my house, the police and soldiers [brought in] all sorts of vehicle

* 4 motorbikes at the very front following close after a group of fleeing protesters.
* A bulldozer to get rid of barriers and obstacles the neighborhood civilians have piled up.
* and lastly 3 military trucks loaded with police and soldiers carrying arms.

After they settled down at our neighborhood they roamed around the streets destroying old motorbikes and if they found any new ones that they like they took them away. My father and I were on the rooftop trying to taking some videos and photos to document their ruthlessness. But I could barely take any as they were scrutinizing the houses and rooftops. One of the soldiers tried to shoot at me when I was trying to take the video. I saw him clearly pointing the shoulder-fired long gun at my direction. I quickly ducked myself down and got my knees scraped while the loud bang still rang in my ears.

As far as I know at least 8 civilians were arrested and two guys were shot in the arms and legs. A woman was shot dead in the head on the 85th street between 42nd and 43rd street. Her identity cannot be traced further.

I have always tried to take part in student protests against the coup every now and then these days but now I have come to know very well that even on the days I’m not out on the streets, my life as well as everyone’s life is in danger as long as these terrorist police and soldiers are allowed to continue committing crimes against those who are innocent.

Commenting Sunday on the controversial press release from the Chinese embassy, another said:

Chinese Embassy issued a statement to protect its interest and citizen while ignoring the ongoing atrocities committed by the military Junta. This was used by military Junta as a signal of approval by China and slaughtered more than twenty people and still counting in Hlaing Tharyar and elsewhere around the country. Now the junta has responded to the call of China by declaring Hlaing Tharyar as martial law designated area to kill more innocent people. For forty one days, the protestors on the street has not destroyed any private properties nor a theft is reported. However, when the military and police came to the areas, we always heard and saw the video footages of looting, shootings and lawless behaviors. Therefore, Chinese Embassy should address the barbaric army and police who are the culprit of this violence and arsons that happened across the cities. Stop lecturing Myanmar people about rule of law as it was the army and police who broke the laws in reality. Stop supporting Junta and stand with the people of Myanmar for once before things get worse