US condemns violence against demonstrators in Myanmar

State Department spokesman Ned Price said Tuesday that the United States condemns violence against demonstrators who oppose the military coup in Myanmar, saying that everyone has the right to freely express his opinion and participate in peaceful gatherings.

“We repeat our calls to the military to give up power, restore elected government democratically, release those arrested, and lift all restrictions on telecommunications and refrain from acts of violence“, Mr. Price said at a press conference.

On Tuesday, police and protesters clashed between them, on the most violent day of demonstrations against the coup on February 1st, the day when the army led by its chief, Chief High General Min Aung Hling overthrew the elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

According to health officials, a woman who was shot in the head during the protest would likely not survive.

The clashes led to the first bloodshed since the military took power and arrested Suu Kyi and other party politicians the National League for Democracy, which won the November elections with a profound result.

The military says the National League for Democracy won thanks to manipulation, an accusation that has been rejected by the election commission and Western governments.

The U.S. State Department spokesman reiterated what has been said since last week that Myanmar is a priority for Washington and that the US is reviewing the assistance it provides to this country “under the optics of ensuring that those responsible for the coup face strong difficulties”.

President Joe Biden's administration is working to limit some parts of aid to Myanmar and has threatened to impose sanctions.