Myanmar anti-coup protesters honor woman shot dead by police

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar's two largest cities paid tribute Saturday to a young woman who died a day earlier after being shot by police during a rally against military takeover.

An impromptu memorial created under an elevated roway in Yangon attracted around 1,000 protesters. A wreath of bright yellow flowers was hung beneath a photograph of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, who was shot in capital, Naypyitaw, on Feb. 9, two days before her 20th birthday.

Her death on Friday, anunced by her family, was first confirmed fatality among thousands of protesters who have faced off against security forces since military took power in a Feb 1 coup.

Protesters at memorial chanted and held up signs that re “End dictatorship in Myanmar" and “You will be remembered Mya Thwet Thwet Khine.” supporters also laid roses and rose petals on ims of woman.

Video from day she was shot show her sheltering from water canns and suddenly dropping to ground after a bullet penetrated motorcycle helmet she was wearing. She h been on life support in a hospital for more than a week with what doctors said was chance of recovery.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price offered his government’s condolences Friday and reiterated calls on military to refrain from violence against peaceful protesters.

In Mandalay, country's second-largest city, a protest led by medical university students drew more than 1,000 people, many of whom also carried flowers and ims of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine.

Ors held signs saying “CDM,” referring to nationwide civil disobedience movement that has encourd doctors, engineers and ors to protest coup by refusing to work.

Across country protests showed signs of slowing down on Saturday despite recent crackdowns by military government — including a sixth consecutive night in which internet was cut for many hours.

Demonstrators also gared elsewhere in Yangon, chanting and holding placards and ims of bel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, whose democratically elected government was overthrown.

Aerial ims taken Friday showed streets in Yangon painted with words “ military dictatorship must fall” in Burmese, and “We want democracy” and “Free our leers" in English.

Security forces have been relatively restrained so far in confronting protesters in Yangon, but appeared to be toughening ir stance in areas where re is less media presence.

Police used force for a second day Friday to arrest protesters in Myitkyina, capital of remote rrn state of Kachin. Kachin ethnic mirity has long been in conflict with central government, and re has been intermittent armed struggle against army re for deces.

junta seized power after detaining Suu Kyi and preventing Parliament from convening, saying elections in vember were tainted by voting irregularities. election outcome, in which Suu Kyi’s party won by a landslide, was affirmed by an election commission that has since been replaced by military. junta says it will hold new elections in a year’s time.

U.S., British and Canian governments have imposed sanctions on new military leers, and y and or nations have called for Suu Kyi’s ministration to be restored.

coup was a major setback to Myanmar’s transition to democracy after 50 years of army rule. Suu Kyi came to power after her National League for Democracy party won a 2015 election, but generals retained substantial power under constitution, which was opted under a military regime.

Im: AP