As of 15 March 2021, the military has imposed martial law in six townships in the city of Yangon amid anti-coup protests in Myanmar. The martial law order was initially declared for the townships of Hliang Thar Yar and nearby Shwepyithar on 14 March and extended to North Dagon, North Okkalapa, South Dagon, and Dagon Seikkan townships the following day in response to arson attacks on garment factories owned by Chinese firms. The Chinese Embassy in Yangon stated that several Chinese nationals were injured in the arson attacks on factories in Hliang Thar Yar. Anti-coup groups have previously indicated that they could target Chinese businesses in response to China’s perceived support for Myanmar’s junta. In related developments, security forces killed three protesters during an anti-coup protest in the town of Myingyan, which is located in central Myanmar. Various reports indicate that telecommunications services, including mobile internet, were suspended in Yangon and several other areas of the country.
During the weekend of 13-14 March, anti-coup protests occurred in multiple cities despite the military’s crackdown on protesters. On 14 March security forces fired live rounds at protesters and burned makeshift barricades during protests in the Hlaing Thar Yar township in western Yangon, located 9 km (6 mi) east of Yangon International Airport (VYYY/RGN). In the town of Taungoo, located in Bago region, security forces used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse protesters. In total, at least 76 people were killed in protest-related violence nationwide. More than 30 of those fatalities reportedly occurred in Hlaing Thar Yar. Additionally, on 13 March security personnel in the city of Mandalay used live rounds to disperse a protest in Sein Pan ward, killing four protesters and injuring several others. Two people were killed, and several others were injured when security forces fired live rounds at demonstrators in the town of Pyay, located in Bago region.
