Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: At least 38 people were killed in Yangon on Sunday when the army opened indiscriminate fire on irate mobs which, suspecting Beijing’s hand in the February 1 military coup in Myanmar, torched several Chinese-owned garment factories, leading to the military clamping martial law in parts of the city.
For more than a month, the local people have been protesting against the coup and toppling of the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Across the restive nation, large-scale protests are being held by those who think Beijing was supporting the military coup. Persistent protests have further worsened an already fragile economy.
According to media reports, at least 38 people were killed on Sunday as the military junta’s forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters demanding restoration of the elected government. Many more demonstrators have been killed across the country since February 1.
Reacting strongly to the torching of Chinese factories, Beijing’s Embassy in Yangon condemned the attacks as ‘extremely vile’ and urged the local officials to end the violence, punish perpetrators and protect Chinese businesses and people in the country. Several Chinese-backed factories were smashed up and set ablaze, while many Chinese nationals were injured, it said.
“We urge the Myanmar people to express their demands in a lawful manner, and avoid being incited and exploited into damaging friendly cooperation between China and Myanmar,” the Embassy said, adding that Chinese investment in the textile and garment sector has created nearly 400,000 jobs in Myanmar.
Protesters have been slamming China for refusing to condemn the military coup and the junta’s violence against pro-democracy demonstrators.
While several democratic countries have condemned the military coup and braced to impose sanctions against Myanmar, China has described it as an ‘internal matter’ of the country.
China’s foreign ministry said that any action by the international community should ‘avoid aggravating conflicts and further complicating the situation.
Angry Myanmarese have questioned China’s relationship with the military junta and its silence over rampant human rights abuses. Social media activists shared lists of companies said to be Chinese-owned and called for their boycotts.
Many demonstrators were seen carrying Chinese flags inscribed with the slogan “China get out from Burma”, media reported.
Popular anger against China is manifesting across Myanmar.
Mon Sandar Myint, who heads the Federation of General Workers Myanmar, said many of the garment workers her group represents were being threatened by Chinese employers over their participation in protests and civil disobedience.
The Chinese Embassy’s reaction demonstrated Beijing’s antagonism towards the demonstrators, and did not show any sympathy for the Myanmar nationals who were killed, she said, according to reports.
“They don’t care about the people of Myanmar, they only care about their own interests in the country,” Myint said.
Around 40 percent of the country’s clothing factories have Chinese owners, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, quoting Myanmar’s national garment association.
A large number of protesters have been openly defying military orders and demonstrating against the dictators across Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Apart from China, Russia also continues to defend Myanmar’s military, claiming that the coup was the country’s ‘internal affair’.