MYANMAR (NAYPYIDAW) – In the wake of increasing death tolls, which has already exceeded 80, in protests against last month’s coup, The acting leader of Myanmar’s parallel civilian government said it is planning to give people the legal right to defend themselves.
The announcement was made when Mahn Win Khaing Than and other senior officials from the ruling National League for Democracy Party, were addressing the public via Facebook, saying, “This is the darkest moment of the nation and the moment that the dawn is close”.
He said the civilian government would “attempt to legislate the required laws so that the people have the right to defend themselves” against the military crackdown.
More than 80 people had been killed as of Saturday in widespread protests against the military’s seizure of power, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group said. Over 2,100 people have been arrested, it said.
At least 13 people were killed on Saturday, one of the bloodiest days since the Feb. 1 coup, witnesses and domestic media said.
