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After the fatal shots on Hledan Road in Yangon on February 28th, the barricade in the background.
In this article, DER SPIEGEL shows photos that Min Ant Thoon took that day.
Photo: Min Ant Thoon
SPIEGEL:
At least 18 people lost their lives in the demonstrations on Sunday.
Where were you that day?
Min Ant Thoon:
I was in Yangon, in front of a small train station on Hledan Road, which is an important main thoroughfare.
Protesters had erected a man-high barricade there.
It was between 9.30 and 10 a.m. when the security forces advanced on the other side of the barricade.
First they fired tear gas, then a stun grenade exploded.
Then I heard gunshots.
A young man near me was hit.
About Min Ant Thoon
Icon: enlargePhoto: Min Ant Thoon
Myanmare
Min Ant Thoon
is 32 years old and a photo reporter for the online news agency "O Media" in Yangon.
SPIEGEL:
What happened next?
Min Ant Thoon:
Everyone ran apart and looked for cover, behind parked cars, in shops.
Seven or eight people carried the injured young man down a side street.
There were ambulances nearby, but they couldn't get through, they had to take detours through the alleys.
The young man died on the spot.
The projectile had entered his eye.
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Bullet casings picked up by demonstrators
Photo: Min Ant Thoon
SPIEGEL:
Did that end the violence?
Min Ant Thoon:
No.
There is a primary school nearby, and many demonstrators have fled there.
The barricade gave them privacy.
Even so, a man was shot in the stomach in front of school.
From the angle it cannot be that he was shot by someone standing in front of the barricade.
SPIEGEL:
A sniper?
Min Ant Thoon: In
any case, the shot came from the other side.
The whole street was covered in blood.
Helpers could not stop the wound.
This man died too.
Two dead, seven injured, some with shots in the legs, that was the balance sheet in Hledan.
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Paramedics take care of a seriously injured person
Photo: Min Ant Thoon
SPIEGEL:
What happened before that?
Did protesters throw stones before the first shot was fired?
Min Ant Thoon:
Nobody threw stones.
There was no violence from the crowd.
SPIEGEL:
Who was on the other side, police or military?
Min Ant Thoon:
There was police in front, behind were soldiers, and one of them behaved as badly as the other.
The security forces believe they alone have the right to rule.
They enjoy the fear of the population.
The soldiers have always been brutal.
In the border regions where ethnic minorities live, they shot innocent people, raped them, tortured them and stole valuable things from them.
These soldiers have now been sent to Yangon to use force to crush the peaceful demonstrations.
SPIEGEL:
How do the demonstrators protect themselves?
Min Ant Thoon:
We have construction workers' helmets and protective shields, just like the protesters in Hong Kong.
The difference is that Hong Kong security forces attacked with tear gas and beat them.
They also shoot in Myanmar.
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The demonstration in Hledan before the first shots were fired.
Photo: Min Ant Thoon
SPIEGEL:
How can you still pursue your work as a photographer?
Min Ant Thoon:
I have a helmet, but not a bulletproof vest.
My agency has instructed us photographers that we should never move between the security forces and the demonstrators.
Otherwise, I try to assess the situation: If it's not so tense, I can go forward and take photos.
SPIEGEL:
There is more shooting, the number of deaths is increasing every day, but the demonstrations are not slacking off.
What does this come down to?
Min Ant Thoon:
The more pressure, the more shootings, the more resistance.
When citizens can no longer take to the streets, they will find other ways to demonstrate.
I interviewed a lot of people at the demonstrations - they want to fight the military dictatorship to the end.
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