NAYPYIDAW (MYANMAR) – Protesters opposed to Myanmar’s military coup resisted bans on big gatherings to take forward the largest demonstrations in more than a decade on Tuesday. As they were chanting and confronting the cops, the latter fired water cannons and arrested more than two dozen people.
Video in Bago, northeast of the commercial hub of Yangon also showed police aiming water cannon, against a large crowd.
Police arrested at least 27 demonstrators in the second-biggest city Mandalay, which includes a journalist, said local media organisations said.
Yangon resident Khin Min Soe said, “The coup always come into our thoughts, every time we eat, work and even during resting time. We are so disappointed and so sad whenever we think about why this has befallen us again.”
“We will continue to fight,” said a statement from youth activist Maung Saungkha, calling for the release of political prisoners and the “complete collapse of dictatorship”.
That said, Myanmar has fallen prey to one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Southeast Asia with a total of 31,177 deaths from more than 141,000 cases.
The US Embassy said it had received reports of an 8 pm to 4 am local time curfew in Yangon and Mandalay, the two biggest cities.
There was no further comment from authorities on the measures to stop protesters.
In his first televised address as junta leader on Monday, Min Aung Hlaing said the junta would form a “true and disciplined democracy,”, which will be different to previous eras of military rule that has left Myanmar in isolation and poverty.
“We will have a multiparty election and we will hand the power to the one who wins in that election, according to the rules of democracy,” he said.
Min Aung Hlaing did not specify any timing, however, the junta has said a state of emergency will last one year.
New Zealand said on Tuesday it will halt all high-level political and military contact with Myanmar, and make sure that aid does not benefit the military and implement a travel ban on its leaders.
A prominent Singapore businessman plans to withdraw his investment in a Myanmar tobacco firm linked to the military, with the likes of Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings which last week cancelled its beer alliance in the country.
The UN Security Council has called for the release of SuuKyi and other detainees. The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session on Friday to discuss the crisis as urged by Britain and the European Union.
Suu Kyi’s lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her. The US State Department said it tried to get in touch with her, but was denied.