In a brutal escalation of violence against Myanmar’s anti-coup protesters, security forces on March 14, 2021, massacred dozens of demonstrators in Hlaingthaya township, Yangon.
The horror unfolded as protesters gathered at major intersections along Hlaing River Road, setting up makeshift barriers in preparation for a sit-in strike. By around 10 am, military trucks carrying soldiers breached the barriers, forcing protesters to disperse.
Security forces, a combined contingent of Myanmar Army troops and Yangon police under the command of Nyunt Win Swe and Myo Min Htike respectively, then proceeded to “kettle” protesters, advancing from both ends of the thoroughfare. Witnesses reported indiscriminate live fire directed at protesters, with snipers positioned on Aung Zeya Bridge raining down further casualties. Medical personnel and bystanders attempting to aid the injured were also targeted.
In the immediate aftermath, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners documented at least 22 deaths, with the toll rising to 58 by the following day. A Human Rights Watch report later placed the final death count at 65, with victims as young as 17 and as old as 78.
The massacre coincided with the burning of at least 32 Chinese-owned factories in Hlaingthaya, acts attributed to unknown assailants. The motives behind the arson remain unclear. Following the violence, security forces ramped up their presence in the township, further quashing dissent.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
