{"id":112557,"date":"2021-02-12T12:39:39","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T12:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=112557"},"modified":"2021-02-12T12:39:39","modified_gmt":"2021-02-12T12:39:39","slug":"three-wounded-in-myanmar-as-hundreds-of-thousands-of-protesters-defy-junta","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/markets\/three-wounded-in-myanmar-as-hundreds-of-thousands-of-protesters-defy-junta\/","title":{"rendered":"Three wounded in Myanmar as hundreds of thousands of protesters defy junta"},"content":{"rendered":"
(Reuters) – Supporters of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi clashed with police on Friday as hundreds of thousands joined nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations in defiance of the junta\u2019s call to halt mass gatherings.<\/p>Demonstrators hold signs to protest against the military coup and demand for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, February 12, 2021. REUTERS\/Stringer<\/figcaption>
The United Nations human rights office said more than 350 people, including officials, activists and monks, have been arrested in Myanmar since the Feb. 1 military coup, including some who face criminal charges on \u201cdubious grounds\u201d.<\/p>\n
The U.N. rights investigator for Myanmar told a special session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that there were \u201cgrowing reports, photographic evidence\u201d that security forces have used live ammunition against protesters, in violation of international law.<\/p>\n
Myint Thu, Myanmar\u2019s ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, told the session that Myanmar did not want \u201cto stall the nascent democratic transition in the country,\u201d and would continue international cooperation.<\/p>\n
Friday\u2019s mostly peaceful protests were the biggest so far, and came a day after Washington imposed sanctions on generals who led the takeover.<\/p>\n
Three people were wounded when police fired rubber bullets to break up a crowd of tens of thousands in the southeastern city of Mawlamyine, a Myanmar Red Cross official told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Footage broadcast by Radio Free Asia showed police charging at protesters, grabbing one and smashing him in the head. Stones were then thrown at police before the shots were fired.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree got shot \u2013 one woman in the womb, one man on his cheek and one man on his arm,\u201d said Myanmar Red Cross official Kyaw Myint, who witnessed the clash.<\/p>\n
Several people in Mawlamyine were arrested but later released when a thousands-strong crowd stood outside the police station and demanded they be freed, according to live footage broadcast by Radio Free Asia.<\/p>\n