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Aung San Suu Kyi party official dies in police custody; protests erupt across Myanmar

WION Web Team
Yangon, MyanmarUpdated: Mar 07, 2021, 06:09 PM IST
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Photograph:(Reuters)

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The cause of Khin Maung Latt's death was not known, but according to Reuters, the body was found with a bloodstained cloth around the head. 

An official from the party of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi died overnight in police custody, reports say.

The cause of Khin Maung Latt's death was not known, but according to Reuters, the body was found with a bloodstained cloth around the head. 

Sithu Maung, a member of the dissolved parliament, said in a Facebook post that Khin Maung Latt was his campaign manager and was arrested on Saturday night in the Pabedan district of Yangon.

In the wake of this incident, protests were held in at least half a dozen cities in some of the most widespread action against the coup last month. And security forces cracked down on many of the protests across the country on Sunday.

Video posted by media group Myanmar Now showed soldiers beating up men in Yangon, where at least three protests were held despite overnight raids by security forces on campaign leaders and opposition activists.

The United Nations says security forces have killed more than 50 people to stamp out daily demonstrations and strikes in the Southeast Asian nation since the military overthrew and detained Suu Kyi on February 1.

The state-run Global New Light Of Myanmar newspaper quoted a police statement as saying security forces were dealing with the protests in accordance with law. It said the forces were using tear gas and stun grenades to break up rioting and protests that were blocking public roads.

Over 1,700 people had been detained under the military junta by Saturday, according to figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group. It did not give a figure for overnight detentions.

"Detainees were punched and kicked with military boots, beaten with police batons and then dragged into police vehicles," AAPP said in a statement. "Security forces entered residential areas and tried to arrest further protesters, and shot at the homes, destroying many."

The killings have drawn anger in the West and been condemned by most democracies in Asia. The United States and some other Western countries have imposed limited sanctions on the junta.

China, Myanmar's giant neighbour to the northeast, said on Sunday it is prepared to engage with "all parties" to ease the crisis and is not taking sides.

Protesters demand the release of Suu Kyi and respect for November's election - which her party won in a landslide but which the army rejected. The army has said it will hold democratic elections at an unspecified date.

(with inputs from agencies)