Myanmar: Over 114 killed by security forces in deadliest day since coup

Myanmar on Saturday (March 27, 2021) witnessed the killings of more than 100 people including children by security forces on the bloodiest day since the military coup on February 1.

(Photos credits: Reuters and PTI)

March 27, which marks Myanmar's Armed Forces Day, also brought some of the heaviest fightings since the coup between the army and the ethnic armed groups.

According to the Myanmar Now news portal, 114 people were killed across the country on Saturday in crackdowns on the protests.

Myanmar Now reported that the dead included 40 people, including a 13-year-old girl, in the country's second city of Mandalay. 

At least 27 people were killed in the commercial hub Yangon, Myanmar Now claimed. 

A 13-year-old was also among the dead in the central Sagaing region.

As per Reuters, the deaths were recorded from the Kachin region in the mountainous north to Taninthartharyi in the far south on the Andaman Sea - taking the overall number of civilians reported killed since the coup to more than 440.

The deaths have drawn international condemnation, with multiple diplomatic missions to Myanmar releasing statements that mentioned the killing of civilians Saturday, including children.

The reason behind the coup is that the military has said that it took power because the November elections won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party were fraudulent. This claim, however, has been dismissed by Myanmar's election commission. 

Suu Kyi is still in detention at an undisclosed location. Many other figures in her party are also reportedly in custody.

The deaths have drawn international condemnation as multiple diplomatic missions to Myanmar have released statements mentioning the killing of civilians including children.

"This 76th Myanmar armed forces day will stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonour," the European Union's delegation to Myanmar said.