Myanmar’s Protest Tragedy: 20+ Lives Lost and Martial Law Crippling Yangon
Crunchy Summary
On Monday, March 15, security forces shot at least 20 pro‑democracy protesters—career‑bull‑shots that punched the country right through the nerve center. The military, nappier than ever, rolled out martial law across sections of Yangon, giving officers the freedom to crush dissent with a single swipe.
What Went Down on Monday
- Casualties: AAPP says 20 people were killed by gunfire, with 18‑year‑old demonstrants in Myingyan fleeing for cover.
- Places of Pain: Mandalay, Myingyan, and Aunglan saw chaotic marches turn into gunfire; the police opened fire in the middle of the protests.
- Tragic Quotes: “One girl got shot in the head and a boy got shot in the face,” a young protester told Reuters, now hiding from the bullets.
- Last Sunday’s Bloodshed: The AAPP reported 74 deaths, mostly from rallies in Hlaingthaya, a factory area that turned into a battlefield.
- Overall Toll: 183 lives lost during the weeks of demonstrators clashing with the military’s iron fist.
International Voices
- USA: The State Department slammed the military’s violence as “immoral and indefensible.”
- UN: Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres urged a visit from his special envoy to cool down tensions and spark dialogue back into the democratic stream.
- Commentary: “The killing of demonstrators, arbitrary arrests, and reported torture of prisoners violate fundamental rights,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, waving a flag of restraint to the press.
As the protests heat up, we’re all hoping the UN envoy can bring a cooler (and less lethal) breeze. Until then, the people of Myanmar keep marching, eyes wide open, fingers crossed, and hearts pounding.
Martial Law
MRTV Announces Martial Law in Yangon, Mandalay
Myanmar’s state broadcaster MRTV just dropped the bomb: martial law is now in place across several districts of Yangon – the bustling commercial heart and old capital. According to Myanmar Now, the same hard‑line order has spread to parts of Mandalay too.
What’s the Deal?
The announcement says that military commanders will take control of the local administration, including the courts. With the Martial Courts in charge, they’re allowed to hand out death sentences or long prison terms for a whole range of offenses. These include
- treason and dissent
- obstructing the army or civil service
- spreading false information
- crimes related to unlawful associations
Why Now?
The army says it has taken power after its claims of fraud in the November 8 election – won by former PM Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) – were dismissed by the electoral commission. It promised a fresh election but still no date.
The Long History
Myanmar has been under military rule for most of the time since its 1948 independence from Britain. The army hasn’t been shy about crushing uprisings, even when it earlier agreed to a democratic transition that now looks like a dead end.
Suu Kyi’s Predicament
The 75‑year‑old Nobel laureate has been held since the coup and faces a litany of charges:
- illegally importing walkie‑talkie radios
- breaching coronavirus protocols
- accepting alleged illegal payments (not yet charged)
She was slated for a virtual court hearing on Monday, but her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw explained that the session couldn’t happen because the internet crashed. The next hearing is scheduled for March 24.
International Reactions
Western nations are pressing for Suu Kyi’s release and condemning the violence. Neighboring Asian countries have offered to help resolve the crisis, yet Myanmar has a long track record of rejecting outside intervention.
Chinese worries
China’s Loudest Call for Calm Amid Myanmar’s Factory Firestorm
On a blistering Sunday, 32 factories that were built with Chinese investment in Hlaingthaya went up in a blaze of arson. The Global Times, loud and unfiltered, labeled the assaults “vicious” and estimated the damage at roughly $37 million (S$49 million). Two Chinese workers were hurt in the chaos.
Embassy & Foreign Ministry Speak Out
- Embassy Appeal: Beijing’s embassy urged Myanmar’s generals “to stop the violence” with a clear message that Chinese businesses and personnel need protection.
- State Press: The Foreign Ministry, through spokesman Zhao Lijian, publicly wished for “further relevant and effective measures” to safeguard the lives and assets of Chinese companies and staff.
- Missing Point: Zhao made no mention of the protestors who died during the turmoil.
Why the Heat is Rising
Since the coup, anti‑China sentiment has been on the rise. Many Myanmar citizens feel Beijing’s lukewarm criticism of the takeover contrasts sharply with Western condemnation, and that fuels frustration.
Yet, not everyone is ready to turn the whole of China into a villain. Protest leader Thinzar Shunlei Yi made this clear:
- “Myanmar people do not hate their Chinese neighbors,” she said on Twitter.
- “They just expect their rulers to understand the outrage felt over the Chinese stance.”
- She urged the Chinese government to stop backing the coup council if it truly cares about Sino‑Myanmar relations and to protect businesses.
Bottom Line
With factories ruined, workers injured, and tensions running high, China’s leadership is listening—sparking a call for peace, security, and a clearer stance on the coup. The debate is heating up: will the Chinese government finally step off the political sidelines, or will it keep tightening the anchor on Myanmar’s volatile deck?
