Myanmar security forces kill seven protesters, and the Chinese-owned factory caught fire

(Reuters) – Myanmar troops fired on anti-coup protesters on Wednesday, killing at least seven people and injuring several, a Chinese-owned factory set on fire in the commercial capital Yangon and activists burned the flag Chinese.

The country’s military leader said the civil disobedience movement was “destroying” Myanmar.

More than 580 people have been killed, according to an activist group, in the unrest in Myanmar in a February 1 coup that ended a short period of civilian-led democracy. National protests and strikes have persisted since then, despite the army’s use of lethal force to quell opposition.

Security forces opened fire on protesters in the northwestern city of Kale on Wednesday, demanding the restoration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government, a resident told Reuters.

The news quoted witnesses as saying that there were casualties and repeated gunfire. Press Mizzima and Irrawaddy said five people were killed and several more injured.

The Kale resident said the information was provided by witnesses, who took pictures of five bodies.

Reuters could not independently verify the toll.

Two protesters were killed in the town of Bago near Yangon, Myanmar Now media reported.

A fire broke out on Wednesday at the Chinese JOC clothing factory in Yangon, the news reported and firefighters said. No casualties were reported or details of the extent of the damage.

In another Yangon neighborhood, activists set fire to the Chinese flag, according to images posted on Facebook.

China is seen as supporting the military junta, and last month there were arson attacks on 32 Chinese-invested factories in Yangon.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, head of the junta, said in a statement released on Wednesday that the civil disobedience movement or CDM had shut down hospitals, schools, roads, offices and factories.

“Although the protests are organized in neighboring countries and in the international community, they do not destroy business,” he said. “MDL is an activity of destruction of the country.”

According to the advocacy group of the Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), 581 people, including dozens of children, were shot by troops and police in almost daily riots since the coup, and security forces arrested nearly 3,500 people, with 2,750 still detained.

LOSS OF CONTROL BOARD

The ability of the youth-led anti-coup movement to organize campaigns and share information through social networks and instant messaging has been severely affected by broadband internet borders and mobile data services.

Fixed line services are available, which few in Myanmar have access to.

“Myanmar was subject to a gradual collapse in the February information abyss,” Alp Toker, the founder of the NetBlocks internet blocking observatory, told Reuters.

“Communications are now very limited and only available to a few.”

Also, with the print media shut down, protesters sought alternative solutions to get their message across, producing their own daily A4-size brochures, which are digitally distributed and printed for distribution to the public.

Arrest warrants have been issued for hundreds of people, and dozens of influencers, animators, artists and musicians are meeting this week.

The country’s most famous comedian, Zarganar, was arrested on Tuesday, the press reported.

British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab discussed how Britain and the international community could support an effort in Southeast Asia to resolve the Myanmar crisis, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after meeting with his British counterpart in Jakarta.

Indonesia is one of several Southeast Asian countries leading the way for high-level talks on Myanmar.

Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Australia, have imposed or tightened sanctions on generals and the huge military network of business monopolies in response to the coup, detention and the use of lethal force against protesters.

The European Union is expected to follow suit.

Russia, which has shown support for Myanmar’s military council, said on Tuesday that the West risks triggering a civil war by imposing sanctions on the junta.

Fitch Solutions said in a report released on Wednesday that only targeted Western sanctions would fail to restore democracy. She predicted a violent revolution in the medium term that pitted the army against members of the anti-coup movement and ethnic militias.

Some ethnic minority forces, which control large areas of border regions, have said they cannot stand because the junta is killing people and has already engaged the army in fighting.

Fitch said Myanmar was heading for a failed state.

“The increase in violence against civilians and ethnic militias shows that Tatmadaw (the army) is losing more and more control over the country,” he said, adding that the vast majority of people supported Suu Kyi’s ousted government.