19-year-old 'Angel' shot dead in Myanmar protests; country in mourning

YANGON: Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old student,  has been killed in protests against the Myanmar military's coup dethroning the democratically elected Suu Kyi government in the country.

 

Sin, also known as Angel and by her Chinese name Deng Jia Xi, was reportedly shot in the head while protesting the 'draconian' army which has deployed fighter jets to intimidate protesters. She was wearing a T-shirt with the phrase "Everything will be OK" when she died

 

According to reports, a total of 38 people lost their lives on Thursday, the 'bloodiest' day since the February 1 Myanmar coup.

 

New protests were held in at least three areas of Yangon, the country's largest city, that have been scenes of violence for the past few days. At least 18 people lost their lives in the city on Thursday.

 

In Mandalay, the army jets flew over the city, presumably to threaten the protesters.

 

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Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council has scheduled closed-door consultations on Friday on calls to reverse the coup — including from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres — and stop the escalating military crackdown.

 

However, any kind of coordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult since two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, are likely to veto it.

 

Some countries have already imposed or are considering their own sanctions. The junta, however, remains defiant, and is counting on its few 'friends' to bail it out.

 

Demonstrators have flooded the streets of towns and cities across Myanmar since last month's coup, even though gatherings of five or more people are banned and security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds.

 

According to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least a thousand people -- including journalists -- have been arrested.