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Protesters led by a group of saffron-robed monks marched through Myanmar’s largest city on Monday for a third day in a row, denouncing last week’s military coup and calling for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon again, holding signs saying “Say no to dictatorship” and “We want democracy”. They displayed multicolored Buddhist flags alongside red banners in the colors of the National League for Democracy (NLD) of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Another sign read: “Free our leaders, respect our votes, reject the military coup.”
Buddhist monks at the forefront of the protest resume today in Myanmar’s main city, Yangon, to condemn the coup a week ago and call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar via @Myanmar_Now_Eng pic.twitter.com/6z1v8GZ797
– Matthew Tostevin (@TostevinM) February 8, 2021
Activists also called for a general strike on Monday, urging officials to stop working as part of efforts to “demolish the military dictatorship,” Yangon-based Myanmar Now newspaper said, citing activist Ei Thinzar Maung.
Responding to the call, nurses, teachers and officials joined the protests on Monday, local media reported.
Hundreds of uniformed teachers marching on a street in Hlaing Tharyer, a town on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, protest against the military coup in Myanmar on February 8. Credit: Khit Thit Media #WhatIsHappeningInMyanmar #CivilDisobedienceMovement #SaveMyanmar # Feb8Coup #Burma pic.twitter.com/fAvPeqeSuJ
– Wa Lone (@ walone4) February 8, 2021
View of Burmese citizens protesting the military coup in Yangon at 9 a.m. this morning. We want democracy and we have no right to claim it.
The military can cut off the Internet connection, but not our fighting souls for our country.# Feb8Coup#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/lRSEkFzgq4– Eveline (@ Eveline11798) February 8, 2021
The civil disobedience campaign began last week, first with doctors, then teachers and government officials. It gained momentum over the weekend, with tens of thousands of people joining street rallies across the country, including in Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw.
The protests mark the largest manifestation of public dissent in Myanmar since a 2007 monk revolt that was brutally suppressed by the military.
A year later, the generals issued a newly drafted constitution, which ensured that the military retained considerable power, but opened the door to civilian government and a referendum. The transition to democracy was turned upside down on February 1 when Chief General Min Aung Hlaing took power, alleging widespread fraud in the November elections that the NLD won in a landslide. He has yet to provide any evidence.
Map of cities and twons that joined public gatherings and protests on February 7.
Tomorrow there will be a mega general strike. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #Myanmarcoup #Myanmar #FightForDemocracy #SaveMyamar pic.twitter.com/dN7r5T0UGU
– Wai Wai Nu (@waiwainu) February 7, 2021
So far, anti-coup protests have been peaceful, but observers fear the military may crack down with deadly force, as it did not only in 2007, but also against pro-protesters. democracy in 1988.
To add to these concerns, a convoy of military trucks was seen passing through Yangon on Sunday evening.
Protesters, however, do not appear worried.
“I completely despise the military coup and am not afraid of a crackdown,” Kyi Phyu Kyaw, 20, told AFP news agency during Sunday protests. “I will join every day until Amay Suu (Mother Suu) is released.”
‘We are all with you’
On Monday, protests were also reported in the central city of Mandalay, the southeastern coastal town of Dawei, in the southeast, and in the far north of Myitkyina city, the state capital of Kachin, where the demonstrators were dressed in black from head to toe.
In an attempt to quell the mounting anger, Myanmar military authorities cut internet access on Saturday but restored services on Sunday. The one-day ban that sparked even more anger in a country fearful of returning to isolation and even greater poverty during 50 years of military rule from 1962-2011.
Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigning for democracy and has spent almost 15 years under house arrest during decades of struggle to end nearly 50 years of military rule.
The 75-year-old has been held incommunicado since the coup and now faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies. Her lawyer said he was not allowed to see her.
The coup drew international condemnation.
The United Nations Security Council called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees last week and the United States is considering specific sanctions.
Protesters in Myanmar continue to inspire the world as the actions spread across the country. A general strike has been called for tomorrow. Myanmar stands up to free all those who have been detained and to reject military dictatorship once and for all. We are with you.
– A Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews (@RporterUn) February 7, 2021
“Protesters in Myanmar continue to inspire the world as the actions spread across the country,” Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, said on Twitter. “Myanmar stands up to release all those who have been detained and reject the military dictatorship once and for all. We are with you.”
Josep Borrell, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, also supported the protesters in Myanmar.
“I support the fundamental rights of the Burmese people to expression, assembly and peaceful protest against the military coup, without retaliation or violence,” he tweeted.
“The EU calls for the release of all detainees during the coup. Democracy must be restored. “
I support the fundamental rights of the Burmese people to peaceful expression, assembly and protest against the military coup, without reprisal or violence. The EU calls for the release of all detainees during the coup. Democracy must be restored.
– Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 7, 2021
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