At a military parade on Saturday, the general, who led the overthrow of the civilian government in Myanmar last month, said the army was determined to “protect people from all dangers”.
Before the day was over, security forces under his command had shot dead a 5-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl. A little girl in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, was hit in the eye with a rubber bullet, even though her parents said she was likely to be alive.
The children killed were among the dozen of people killed on Saturday as security forces cracked down on protests across Myanmar. This appeared to be one of the deadliest days since the February 1 coup led by Major General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander of the Tatmadaw, as the military is known. A news agency, Myanmar Now, put the death toll at 80 on Saturday.
“Today is a day of shame for the armed forces,” said Dr. Sasa, a spokesman for a group of elected officials who say they represent the Myanmar government, in a statement.
The killings took place on Armed Forces Day, a holiday in honor of the Tatmadaw that gave rise to General Min Aung Hlaing’s speech in the capital, Naypyidaw.
The general promised to pave the way for democracy despite rejecting the results of the November 8 elections and arresting many of those elected to parliament that day. He reiterated his promise to hold new elections but did not offer a schedule.
More than 3,000 people arrested by the military since the coup include the fallen civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. Your party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide in November.
In his speech to the assembled troops, which was broadcast on national television, General Min Aung Hlaing stated that the Tatmadaw was founded by General Aung San, a national hero. He did not mention that the general was Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi’s father.
The Armed Forces Day ceremony, a highlight of the year for the Tatmadaw, is usually attended by a large number of foreign diplomats. This year there were fewer representing China and several other neighboring countries.
Also present was Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, who was honored by General Min Aung Hlaing for his praise. On Friday the general gave Mr. Fomin a medal and a ceremonial sword.
Russia has been a major arms supplier to the Myanmar military and, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, can be trusted to work with China to block any attempt by the international body to impose sanctions on Myanmar.
The United States said Thursday that it is imposing its own financial sanctions on two military conglomerates that control much of Myanmar’s economy.
On Saturday, US Ambassador to Myanmar Thomas Vajda said security forces “murdered unarmed civilians, including children,” and called the bloodshed “terrible”.
The U.S. embassy said shots were fired on Saturday at their Yangon cultural center, the American Center. The embassy said no one was injured and that it was investigating.
In an apparent blow to the military on their vacation, the ethnic rebel group known as the Karen National Union said on Facebook that they had overrun and seized a Tatmadaw camp. The group posted photos of weapons it allegedly confiscated, including what appeared to be machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.
The Tatmadaw has fought with various ethnic groups in Myanmar, including the Karen, for decades. Some opposition leaders hope that urban protesters, mostly from the majority of the Bamar ethnic groups, can form a coalition with the ethnic groups to resist the Tatmadaw.
The widespread murders on Saturday came a day after military-run television threatened protesters “shot in the back and in the back of the head” if they continued to oppose military rule.
About a quarter of those killed before Saturday were shot in the head, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, which has tracked arrests and killings since the coup.
Saturday’s killings took place in more than two dozen cities across the country. Many of the victims were spectators.
14-year-old Ma Pan Ei Phyu was at home in Meiktila, a city in central Myanmar, when the security forces accidentally started shooting in the neighborhood, said her father U Min Min Tun. that she had been killed until she fell to the ground. She had been hit in the chest.
In Yangon, 13-year-old Maung Wai Yan Tun was playing outside when the police and soldiers arrived. Frightened, he ran away and was shot, his mother told the online news agency Mizzima. The family went to retrieve his body, but when they found him surrounded by security guards, they did not dare go near.
One of the bloodiest incidents occurred in Yangon’s Dala Township. Police arrested two demonstrators at their home on Friday afternoon.
Soon after, neighbors gathered in front of the police station and requested her release. Police responded by firing rubber bullets and stunning grenades at the crowd, a witness said.
Residents withdrew but returned to the police station after midnight. This time the security forces opened fire with live ammunition after a long break. At least 10 people were killed and 40 injured.
