More than a month after the military orchestrated a coup against the country’s democratically elected leader, Myanmar police are continuing to use violence against peaceful protesters. The death toll is continuing to rise — and it now includes a local official from the deposed leader’s political party.
The BBC reports that the body of U Khin Maung Latt, who campaigned for candidates from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party in recent elections, was released to his family on Sunday. Police reportedly took him by force from his home late Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing him being kicked and beaten. Police told the family he died after fainting. The pro-democracy activist was buried on Sunday.
The military is using increasingly aggressive tactics to try to maintain order as it arrests protesters throughout the country. Myanmar Now reports that police and soldiers broke up a sit-in protest in downtown Mandalay, chasing protesters as they tried to flee. More than 70 people were arrested.
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