"During April 2017, road crashes had led to over 600 deaths and over 3000 injuries, according to a joint statement of the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Sports."
By publishing a overall figure for April. WHO and the Ministry have made it impossible to determine whether *Thingyan* road deaths and injuries are increasing or decreasing.
This is not good practice. It does not allow for the government to be held accountable for the deaths.
Jamie
++++++++++++++++++
Eighteen die in water festival accidents
Three authors
Myanmar Times
19 April 2018
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Wednesday that 18 people were killed, 161 others injured, and 103 cases were filed with the police during the Thingyan Festival, a sharp decline from previous years.
During April 2017, road crashes had led to over 600 deaths and over 3000 injuries, according to a joint statement of the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health and Sports.
“Before this year’s Thingyan, we went around states and regions, including Nay Pyi Taw, for one month to make preparations for crime prevention” said Police Lieutenant Colonel Myint Htwe of the Yangon Regional Police.
“We conducted education campaigns in townships and wards. We also took action to prevent crime, and as a result, this year’s Thingyan saw less crime,” he added
He said the police force took action on five unruly cases, one case of Police Act 30, one case of the Weapons Act Law, 12 cases under the Alcohol Law and 37 pickpocket cases and other petty crimes.
An officer of the Myanmar Police said that the crime rate was reduced after police in each township carried out educational activities and deployed more personnel.
Among this year’s fatalities were two brothers in a village in Homalin township, Sagaing Region, who were shot to death by police on Tuesday after an argument.
The victims allegedly cursed at two police officers who tried to break up an argument between them and a daughter of a village elder near a water pavilion.
A senior police officer in Homalin told The Myanmar Times on Wednesday that the police officer involved in the shooting is being investigated for murder.
Police records showed the officers came upon an argument between the two victims and the woman, and as the victims were leaving, they cursed the officers and sped off on a motorcycle, prompting the police to shoot at them.
The two victims -- Pyae Phyo Aung, 24, and Nay Lin Aung, 26, each suffered a single gunshot wound in the head and died on the spot.
“The policeman who fired his gun is under arrest for murder. The Union government has been informed about the case,” said U Kyaw Htay Lwin, regional MP for Homalin.
“They (the officers) said they fired warning shots, but I can’t understand why the two brothers were hit, he added.
In Mandalay Region, eight people died and 683 people were injured during the five-day holiday, according to Mandalay Hospital.
Doctors at the hospital said the numbered of injured was much higher than that reported by police because some of the injury victims went to the hospital without reporting to the police.
Of those injured, 192 were in-patients and 491 were out-patients, said U Min Lwin, assistant public relations director of the hospital.
“Last year, the number of patients was high during the first and second day [of Thingyan]. That number went down this year,” U Min Kwin said.
Patients with head injuries were sent to Mandalay Hospital. These head injury patients require more treatment than others. There were fewer patients who came from afar this year than last year,” said U Min Lwin.
But he said that some of those people living far away may have gone to other hospitals.
Meanwhile, seven deaths and over 830 injuries were recorded at Yangon General Hospital during Thingyan, which began Friday and ended Tuesday.
Dr Khin Theingyi Myint, deputy medical superintendent of YGH, said that car accidents caused the highest number of injured patients, 295, while 172 others were injured from fighting.
The other patients had minor injuries and came to the out-patient department. Among the fatalities, two were dead on arrival and five others died of their injuries at the hospital.
“The injured patients were not only Yangon residents but also from other regions, including Ayeyarwady and Mawlamyine,” she said.
A few days before the Thingyan, the Ministry of Health and Sports urged national traffic authorities to strengthen law enforcement on seatbelt wearing and drink-driving laws, for a rapid reduction in mortality and morbidity related to road traffic accidents.
It also advised people to maintain their vehicles properly.
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/eighteen-die-water-festival-accidents.html
