520 killed in 6 months of violent attacks in Myanmar

A total of 520 people have been killed in violent attacks in Myanmar in nearly six months from August 1 last year to January 29 this year, the official Myanmar News Agency reported on Thursday.

The victims included three Buddhist monks, 438 civilians and 79 civil servants, the media report said.

During the period, 11 electric and communications towers, 97 bridges and toll gate buildings, six healthcare buildings, 13 schools and educational buildings were also damaged in the attacks, it said.

The People's Defence Force (PDF) has reportedly carried out the attacks across the Southeast Asian country.

Starting from February 1, 2021, when Myanmar declared a state of emergency, to January 29 this year, a total of 6,880 people have been killed in violent attacks across the country, the media report added.

The junta has also targeted media deemed critical of the coup and subsequent crackdown, revoking licences and arresting and jailing dozens of journalists, reports AFP.

With 43 journalists languishing behind bars last year, Myanmar was the world's second-worst jailer of journalists in 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, behind only China.

On Thursday, soldiers patrolled the deserted streets of Myanmar's largest city, three years after a coup ended a short-lived experiment with democracy and as the embattled junta faces growing challenges to its rule.