According to an official of the militant group AAPP (Aid for Political Prisoners), the death toll caused by the February 1 coup in Myanmar exceeded 1,000 on Wednesday, and the organization has been recording killings by security forces.
A spokesperson for the ruling military government did not respond to a request for comment. The military authorities previously stated that AAPP data widely cited by international organizations has been exaggerated.
The military also stated that dozens of members of the security forces were killed. AAPP is not included in its count.
“According to AAPP records, 1,001 innocent people were killed,” AAPP secretary Tate Naing told Reuters. “The actual number of victims is much higher.”
Since the coup, this Southeast Asian country has been in chaos, protests have continued every day, rebellions have broken out in the border areas, and large-scale strikes have severely damaged the economy.
The army overthrew the elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing her National Democratic League of irregularities in the November 2020 elections. The election commission and international monitors at the time stated that the military’s allegations were wrong.
The military authorities stated that their seizure of power should not be called a coup, because it is in line with the Constitution.
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