Burmese military unleashes massacre of civilians, including children

In a "day of disgrace", the military authorities in Burma (Myanmar) on Saturday unleashed a massacre of dozens of civilians, including three children, during a brutal crackdown on anti-junta protests in which the death toll stands at 91, according to local media Myanmar Now.

It is the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup led by army and military junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who presided over an Armed Forces Day military parade in the capital, Naipiyido.

According to Myanmar Now's tally, the deaths occurred during demonstrations in some 40 towns in regions and states including Rangoon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Bago, Magwe, Tanintharyi and Kachin. The total death toll, which had risen to at least 328 by yesterday, is now over 400.

Despite the crackdown with tear gas and rubber and live ammunition, thousands of Burmese once again defied the military and police with chilling scenes that could be followed almost live on social media.

In one video captured by a security camera, soldiers fire unprovoked shots at a motorbike in a place where there were no protests and take one of its occupants injured, while two others run away. In another heartbreaking video, a father cries out in grief that his young son has been killed as he carries him in a car.

Soldiers and police have made good on the threat issued the day before on state television and radio: that they would shoot protesters in the back and in the head.

In fact, most of those killed in the demonstrations since early February have been shot, many of them in the head.

This morning the coup leader of the military junta, Min Aung Hlaing, presided over the parade in Naipyidó to commemorate Armed Forces Day, although many protesters speak of "anti-military dictatorship day" and "a day of dishonour".

The coup general assured that his mission is to "defend democracy" and promised to hold elections, without specifying a specific date.

According to the Asia Nikkei media, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand sent representatives to the military parade. "Russia is a great friend," Min Aung Hlaing said in a speech in the presence of Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Formin.

The vast majority of countries have boycotted the event and even some embassies, including the Spanish embassy, have replaced the cover photo on their Facebook pages with black as a sign of mourning.

"This 76th anniversary of Burma's Armed Forces Day will be remembered as a day of terror and dishonour. The killing of unarmed civilians, including children, is indefensible," the European Union (EU) Delegation to the country said in a statement, calling for an end to the violence and the restoration of democracy.

The British Embassy also criticised the military junta on Twitter, accusing it of carrying out "extrajudicial killings" on Armed Forces Day itself.

The US embassy also joined in the criticism, accusing police and soldiers of "murdering" civilians, including children, whom it has sworn to defend. "The Burmese have spoken clearly: they do not want to live under military rule. We demand an immediate end to the violence and the restoration of the democratically elected government," the US delegation said on Facebook.

The authorities have been shooting protesters on a daily basis for nearly two months, despite harsh condemnations from the UN, as well as the European Union and countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, which have passed sanctions against the military leaders and their economic conglomerates.

The military seized power under the pretext of alleged electoral fraud in last November's elections, which were won by the party of deposed leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and declared legitimate by international observers.

Since the coup, the military junta has detained more than 3,000 people, including Suu Kyi and much of her government, most of whom are being held incommunicado.