Naypyitaw, Mar 2 (UNI) Press logos become a target as Myanmar’s military takes aim with weapons and international-supplied surveillance, writes an adviser for IFJ in South East Asia.
Phil Thornton said that the Myanmar army, police and militia’s use of violence against peaceful protestors reached another level on Sunday, February 28. By 1700 hrs, local media reported at least 19 confirmed killings and another 10 unconfirmed. IFJ spoke to journalists covering the nationwide protests.
Toe Zaw Latt, a video journalist and production director with Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), is not surprised by the brutality or the extreme force used by the security forces. “It’s their assignment,” he said. “This is what they’re trained to do. Arrest people for exercising their democratic rights. Shoot them, beat them with iron bars, use powerful slingshots to fire bolts, and metal spikes. Use tear gas and fire live ammunition into crowds of unarmed people. They want to silence journalists, but we need to report.”