The protests by Myanmar’s civilians against the military coup continue, despite the increasing use of deadly force by the military against them.

Earlier this week, Myanmar security forces shot and killed 38 people in a single day, in what the United Nations characterized as by far “the bloodiest day” since the protests against the military coup, which ousted the duly elected government of Aung San Sui Kyi, began on February 1.

“Today it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on February 1. We have today — only today — 38 people died. We have now more than over 50 people died since the coup started,” UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener, said to reporters at UN headquarters on Wednesday.

The crackdown on protests has killed at least 54 people since the protests began. Yet, Wednesday’s level and nature of violence has international officials worried that coup leaders, frustrated over the continuing protests, have ordered troops to shoot to kill. 

Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for Research Emerlynne Gil, said in a statement that “everything points to troops adopting shoot to kill tactics to suppress the protests, and with silence from the military administration, there is a growing consensus that this has been authorized by the government.”

“We are seeing a surge in unlawful killings, including apparent extrajudicial executions, with no apparent attempt to rein in the use of lethal force,” Gil added. “If anything, security forces appear increasingly brazen in their deployment of lethal weapons with each passing day.”