The violent crackdown on peaceful demonstrations in Tamwe Township and Sule Pagoda in Rangoon on September 27 was the most brutal of all, according to witnesses.
The crackdown took place near State High School No 3 a witness recalled to The Irrawaddy. “They [the security forces] rammed into the middle of the crowd in a truck. Two women were killed immediately. At least 30 people died in the incident.”
The witness added that the two women were mothers of students and they had just come to pick up their children from school.
“It was disgusting,” said the witness, adding that security forces used rubber bullets when they opened fire into the crowds, as well as teargas and batons.
Another witness said that the truck was full of troops and they opened fire at the protesters. One student who held the flag at the front of the rally was the first to be shot, he said.
A resident who was involved in the protest on September 27 said that soldiers blockaded the demonstrators from both ends of the street and then opened fire into the crowd. Protesters ran in different directions. Some climbed on the buildings and some jumped into doorways.
Several monks were killed in a separate crackdown near Sule Pagoda, said the resident, adding that the authorities detained about 200 protesters in the Government Technical Institute after the crackdown.
Afterward, the authorities tightened restrictions on Buddhist monks, demanding them to sign a register if they were going out for morning alms. Junior monks were ordered to return their homes, said the witness, who asked not to be identified.
Brig-Gen Win Myint, head of Light Infantry Division 77 and Lt-Gen Myint Swe, chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 5, were among the perpetrators of the crackdown, said sources, who added that Brig-Gen Win Myint appeared the most brutal of his peers.
Dissident groups are speculating that Hla Htay Win, Chairman of the Rangoon Division Peace and Development Council could have been directly responsible for the death of Japanese journalist, Kenji Nagai, who was shot on September 27 near Sule Pagoda, in central Rangoon.
Other hardliners suspected of involvement in the violent crackdown were Industry Minister Aung Thaung and Home Affairs Minister Maung Oo, said an exiled Burma watcher.
According to the 88 Generation Students group, about 130 deaths occurred nationwide during the demonstrations in September. The group said that about 3,000 demonstrators were arrested, over 1,200 of who were monks.
However, the Burmese government has officially reported that 10 protesters were killed and 2,093 were arrested, 692 of who have now been released.
The crackdown took place near State High School No 3 a witness recalled to The Irrawaddy. “They [the security forces] rammed into the middle of the crowd in a truck. Two women were killed immediately. At least 30 people died in the incident.”
The witness added that the two women were mothers of students and they had just come to pick up their children from school.
“It was disgusting,” said the witness, adding that security forces used rubber bullets when they opened fire into the crowds, as well as teargas and batons.
Another witness said that the truck was full of troops and they opened fire at the protesters. One student who held the flag at the front of the rally was the first to be shot, he said.
A resident who was involved in the protest on September 27 said that soldiers blockaded the demonstrators from both ends of the street and then opened fire into the crowd. Protesters ran in different directions. Some climbed on the buildings and some jumped into doorways.
Several monks were killed in a separate crackdown near Sule Pagoda, said the resident, adding that the authorities detained about 200 protesters in the Government Technical Institute after the crackdown.
Afterward, the authorities tightened restrictions on Buddhist monks, demanding them to sign a register if they were going out for morning alms. Junior monks were ordered to return their homes, said the witness, who asked not to be identified.
Brig-Gen Win Myint, head of Light Infantry Division 77 and Lt-Gen Myint Swe, chief of the Bureau of Special Operations 5, were among the perpetrators of the crackdown, said sources, who added that Brig-Gen Win Myint appeared the most brutal of his peers.
Dissident groups are speculating that Hla Htay Win, Chairman of the Rangoon Division Peace and Development Council could have been directly responsible for the death of Japanese journalist, Kenji Nagai, who was shot on September 27 near Sule Pagoda, in central Rangoon.
Other hardliners suspected of involvement in the violent crackdown were Industry Minister Aung Thaung and Home Affairs Minister Maung Oo, said an exiled Burma watcher.
According to the 88 Generation Students group, about 130 deaths occurred nationwide during the demonstrations in September. The group said that about 3,000 demonstrators were arrested, over 1,200 of who were monks.
However, the Burmese government has officially reported that 10 protesters were killed and 2,093 were arrested, 692 of who have now been released.
