1,000 killed since coup in Myanmar, rights group says

A human rights group said Wednesday more than 1,000 people have been killed since the military coup in Myanmar in February.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) calculated the military there has killed 1,006 people as of Aug. 18, including seven people killed Wednesday.

Many of the deceased were anti-military activists, Teik Naing, secretary-general of the AAPP, said, according to The Associated Press. Dozens were shot in the head and others were killed after they were arrested, Naing said.

The junta military has said the AAPP numbers are wrong and an overestimate. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the leader of the coup, said in May that 300 people had died but the military has not released more recent numbers, the AP noted.

Overall, there have been more than 5,700 people arrested, charged or sentence since the coup with almost 2,000 evading arrest.

The military took over at the beginning of February after they said the country’s elections were fraudulent without providing evidence.

Although the military has claimed they will relinquish control and host new elections, officials have not given a firm timeline.

The U.S. recently donated $50 million in aid to the country due to the drastic COVID-19 situation. 

It is unclear how many have died from the coronavirus in the country as health care facilities have been overrun and the military has been arresting doctors who speak out against it.