The military regime said in a statement on state television last weekend that it was cracking down on new protests. “Protesters are now inciting people, especially emotional teens and young people, to follow a path of confrontation that will cost them lives,” the statement said.
According to initial reports, an unknown number of protesters have been arrested, but the intervention of the army and police is said to be less severe than in recent weeks.
Three weeks ago, the army seized power in Myanmar and arrested political leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her party won the parliamentary elections in November, but according to the army, fraud has taken place.
The protesters demand that the military government resign and release Aung San Suu Kyi.
At least three protesters died
Since the coup, tens of thousands of people have protested in Myanmar every day. At least three protesters were killed by soldiers. A policeman has also died; he succumbed to injuries sustained in the protests.
Hundreds of people attended the funeral yesterday of a 20-year-old woman who was shot in the head by a soldier two weeks ago during a demonstration. It is seen as the symbol of the protests against military oppression.
In the Western world, the coup is strongly disapproved. US Secretary of State Blinken has said his country will crack down on authorities for violently cracking down on peaceful protests. “We stand behind the people of Burma,” he tweeted. The US had previously announced sanctions against Myanmar’s military regime.
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