Myanmar: Death toll crosses 500 as military uses lethal force

The death toll since the February 1 coup in Myanmar crossed 500 as the military have been using lethal force against the peaceful protesters. "As of 29 March, 510 people are now confirmed killed by this junta coup," said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organisation. The AAPP recorded 51 more deaths, which include children, women, youth and civilians, on March 29. "As of March 29, a total of 2,574 people are detained in relation to the attempted military coup on February 1, of them 37 are sentenced. A further 120 people have been issued arrest warrants," it said. The military staged a coup d'état against the democratically elected government on February 1, 2021. Nobel laureate and the political figure Aung San Suu Kyi and her team were put behind bars by the Army. The civilians in large numbers took to streets to condemn the military coup and demanded restoration of democracy in the country. On Monday, the military junta also opened fire on people who were attending a funeral in Taunggyi for those who had previously died.