Myanmar Military Shoots At Protesting Medical Workers

Myanmar’s military reportedly opened fire on healthcare workers who were protesting on Thursday, killing at least one bystander and with demonstrators fleeing for safety.

The incident in Myanmar’s second largest city of Mandalay, saw a demonstration by medical workers turn violent when soldiers opened fire on them.

Eyewitnesses said the Sule mosque compound was being targeted because people in there were hiding protesters. Also, a doctor who treated the wounded said a 30-year-old man who lived in the compound was shot dead, and at least two others injured.

The country has been in chaos since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, provoking a massive uprising which the military leaders have been trying to quell with lethal force.

But the protests have continued unabated with demonstrators continued moving to the streets this week, refusing to celebrate the Myanmar New Year holiday of Thingyan.

Myanmar’s healthcare workers have been at the forefront of a nationwide civil disobedience movement, refusing to return to work under a military regime.

Civil servants from other sectors have followed suit, bringing the operation of the country’s banks, schools, railway operations, and businesses to a halt.

In forceful efforts to force people back to work, the state-run media on Thursday reported that at least 20 doctors participating in the movement would be charged for attempting to deteriorate peace and stability.

According to a local monitoring group, over 700 civilians have been killed in anti-coup unrest and more than 3,000 have been detained so far.