Yangon residents resist soldiers with garbage

Rubbish piled up on the streets of Yangon, Myanmar's main city, yesterday after activists launched a "garbage strike" to oppose military rule.

That was under way as the toll of democracy protesters killed by security forces since a February 1 coup rose to more than 510.

Of 14 civilians killed on Monday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said at least eight were in the South Dagon district of Yangon, where security forces fired a heavier caliber weapon than usual at protesters crouching behind a barricade of sand bags. It was believed to be a type of grenade launcher.

Security forces also used what were described on state-run TV as "riot weapons" to disperse a crowd of "violent terrorist" people. "There was shooting all night," a South Dagon resident said.

The garbage strike had residents being asked to leave garbage at main road intersections. "Everyone can join," read a poster.

The campaign came in defiance of calls issued over loudspeakers in some Yangon neighborhoods on Monday urging residents to dispose of their garbage properly.

One of the main groups behind the protests, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities, has also called in an open letter for ethnic minority forces to help those standing up to the military.

On that, heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Myanmar's oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union, which has denounced the coup.

About 3,000 villagers fled into Thailand when aircraft bombed a KNU area near the border.