The repression intensified this Saturday in Burma, the day after the death of a young 20-year-old grocer, the first victim of military repression.
During a demonstration organized by opponents of the junta in Mandalay, the country's second city, security forces fired live ammunition into the crowd.
Two people died, including a minor who was shot in the head, and around 30 were injured, we learned from rescuers.
“Half of the victims were targeted by live ammunition,” they said.
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"If we do not win, the army will destroy everything": in Burma, the pressure does not weaken
Several hundred police officers intervened at a shipyard in the country's second city, raising fears of arrests of employees mobilized against the coup.
Protesters then banged on pots in an attempt to prevent the arrests, but the police fired, according to an AFP journalist present at the scene.
“At least five people were injured,” he added.
Slingshots have also been used by the police, according to news agency images taken in a country which has already lived under the yoke of the military for more than 50 years since its independence in 1948.
The junta in power since the coup of February 1 continues to increase the pressure on the pro-democracy movement.
Despite this, several thousand protesters, including representatives of many ethnic minorities in traditional dress, again took to the streets of Rangoon, the economic capital, this Saturday.
They demand the return of civilian government, the release of detainees and the abolition of the Constitution which is very favorable to the military.
Near the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in the city center, a funeral wreath was laid in homage to Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who died on Friday.
"The bullet that pierced her hit all of our heads," said one protestor.
"You are our martyr," wrote another, placing a white rose at the foot of his portrait.
The girl was targeted in the head by live ammunition, according to doctors.
The authorities claim that only rubber projectiles were used that day by the police.
A funeral service is scheduled to take place on Sunday.
Calls for civil disobedience continue
Almost three weeks after the putsch which overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and put an end to a fragile 10-year democratic transition, the concert of international protests and the announcement of new sanctions do not sway the generals.
Internet connections were almost cut for the sixth consecutive night, before being restored in the morning.
The arrests are continuing with nearly 550 people arrested in less than three weeks (political leaders, striking officials, monks, activists, etc.), according to an NGO providing assistance to political prisoners.
Only about 40 have been released.
The demonstrations have gathered in the past two weeks hundreds of thousands of Burmese across the country, a wind of revolt unprecedented since "the saffron revolution" in 2007, repressed in blood by the army.
Many incidents have been reported in recent days, with several injured.
In Myitkyina, in the north, small groups of protesters were dispersed on Friday by police and soldiers armed with batons.
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Despite this, alongside the rallies, calls for civil disobedience continue.
European Union foreign ministers will meet on Monday to discuss possible measures against the military.
"Sanctioning certain military leaders is symbolically important, but will not have a significant impact", warned the NGO Burma Campaign UK;
pleading for coercive measures extended to powerful conglomerates controlled by the military.
Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, held incommunicado since her arrest, is indicted on non-political grounds, accused of "illegally" importing walkie-talkies and of violating a law on the management of natural disasters.
The military justified their coup with allegations of massive fraud in the November elections, largely won by the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize party.
