Women's group mourns killing of teenage protester in Myanmar


A women's group mourned the death of a teenage protester who was gunned down on March 3 at a protest in the streets of Mandalay, Myanmar.

(Screencap from YouTube)

In a statement, Gabriela Youth paid tribute to 19-year old activist Kyal Sin, known as Angel, who was shot dead while wearing a shirt bearing the message "Everything will be OK."

"Rest in power, Angel! You will always be remembered as a brave young woman who should be an inspiration for girls and young women all over the world to take up the courage and join the people's resistance for genuine freedom and democracy," the group said.

As the country commemorates the International Working Women's Day on Monday, March 8, Gabriela Youth urged the public to not only remember Angel, but to "also emulate women like Kyal Sin who take an active role in the struggle for social change."

"Like Myanmar, the Philippines, too, is rife with tens of thousands of human rights violations perpetrated by state forces. Like Myanmar, our struggle for our democratic rights is a struggle between life and death," the group added.

Since the February 1 coup, Myanmar's streets have been filled by mass protests demanding an end to military rule and the release of detained elected leaders.

According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 54 people have been killed by state forces in the protests so far.