More killed in Mandalay as junta blocks internet and satellite dishes

Tin Moe was a dumpling seller from Kyaukpadaung, he was very active in demonstrations and was killed. The protests continue amid attempts to evade military repression and shooting soldiers. Fiber internet service blocked and satellite dishes confiscated, possession of which has become illegal. The UN special envoy, traveling to the ASEAN countries, hopes to meet Aung San Suu Kyi and the deposed president U Wint Myint.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - At least 16 people were killed yesterday in Myanmar, where demonstrations continue despite threats from security forces to use lethal weapons.

The Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) has released the updated toll: as of April 8 there are 614 victims and 2,857 prisoners. The AAPP warns that the data is those documented by the association and almost certainly many more were killed and are prisoners.

Among those killed yesterday is Tin Moe, a dumpling vendor from the city of Kyaukpadaung, near Mandalay. He was about 50 years old and was very active in anti-dictatorship demonstrations (in the photo, Tin Moe is the one with the blue shirt). Witnesses say he was first shot in the leg, then in the back while trying to escape. The soldiers loaded his body onto a truck and cremated it by evening, delivering only ashes to the family.

Yesterday there were also protests in Launglone, in the south, with the inhabitants who played, sang and marched before dawn by candlelight. In Dawei, engineers, teachers and students demonstrated. The anti-coup demonstrations try to evade the soldiers by often changing the route, the timetable, or dividing into small groups.

To hinder the organization of the marches, the military government has blocked fiber internet service and is confiscating satellite dishes for a communications blackout. In Laputta and other cities of the Irrawaddy delta, local government cars have announced over loudspeakers that it is now illegal to own satellite discs and that they must be handed over to the police. The police also carried out raids on shops to confiscate the satellite dishes for sale.

On the diplomatic front, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric, said yesterday that the special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener is about to begin a trip this week in the countries of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), starting with Thailand.

Last week, Schraner Burgener presented the country’s situation on the brink of a civil war and called for a joint effort from the countries in the area to push Myanmar towards stability. The special correspondent also hopes to receive permission to enter Myanmar and visit Aung San Suu Kyi and deposed president U Wint Myint, both of whom have been detained since the first day of the coup.