She was wearing an “everything will be fine” t-shirt when she was hit by a fatal shot in the head: Kyal Sin, 19, within hours became a symbol in Burma of the deadly violence of the junta.
• Read also: Burma: new protests despite Wednesday’s murderous crackdown
• Read also: Burma: new protests in the aftermath of a deadly day of repression
“Everything will be fine” said the young demonstrator, follower of dance and martial arts.
But, in a country accustomed to bloody repressions from the army as in 1988 and 2007, Kyal Sin, nicknamed “Angel” was not unaware of the risks.
A few days before her death, she had taken the lead on her Facebook page, communicating her blood type and agreeing to organ donation in case something happened to her.
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The teenager was shot dead by security forces on Wednesday during a pro-democracy rally in Mandalay (center). At least 38 protesters were killed across the country that day, the deadliest day of repression since the February 1 coup.
In images taken shortly before her death and posted on the internet, we see Kyal Sin half-lying behind a makeshift barricade. Then, she crawls and runs in an attempt to take cover, as detonations ring out amid clouds of tear gas.
On the news of her death, the slogan on her t-shirt went viral on social networks where messages poured in: “You are our heroine”, “You are already shining in the stars”, “We will continue the fight until ‘at the end “.
“Voted with my heart”
“Angel” voted for the first time on November 8 in the legislative elections won overwhelmingly by the National League for Democracy (LND), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Proud, she posted that day on Facebook a photo of her kissing his finger, stained purple to show that she went to the polls.
“I did my duty as a citizen (…) I voted with my heart,” she writes.
Less than three months later, the junta, alleviating irregularities in this election, overthrows Aung San Suu Kyi.
Kyal Sin quickly joined the civil disobedience movement, posting on social media with red flags in the colors of the NLD and making the three-fingered salute as a sign of resistance.
The teenager has always lived in Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, where her parents run a beauty salon.
“Their business was going well, she could have been content to live quietly, but she was very angry, she wanted to bring down Min Aung Hlain”, the head of the junta, explains Linlae Waddy, her childhood friend.
Thousands of people attended his funeral in Mandalay on Thursday.
“There will be no forgiveness for you until the end of the world”, sang the assembly, gathered in front of their coffin surrounded by flowers, while young people promised to “fight against the dictatorship until the end ”.
At least 54 civilians have been killed since the coup, according to the UN. Among the victims were four minors, including a 14-year-old teenager.