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In Bagan, in the center of the country, not far from an important archaeological site and famous for its ancient temples, explosions were heard. A doctor told AFP that an 18-year-old teenager was shot in the jaw, at a time when a local media outlet reported that at least five people were injured.
In Rangoon, the economic capital of the country, the police fired again to disperse the rallies. The protesters chanted: “Let us expel the dictator,” referring to the commander of the military group, Ming Aung Hlaing.
Other meetings were held in Mandalay, in central Myanmar, the country’s second-largest city, and in Dawi, in the south, where several protesters have died in recent days.
The pro-democracy movement called for a massive mobilization on Sunday and Monday. “It is not enough to call for civil disobedience and strike without taking to the streets,” said Mong Seungka, a protest activist. “We have to keep our fight at the highest level, and we are ready to die.”
And local media reported warnings that striking government employees “will be fired from tomorrow.”
These calls to strike have a huge impact on a huge number of sectors of the economy that are already weak, with banks that cannot function, hospitals closed and government offices empty.
More than fifty people have died since the beginning of the peaceful protests against the February 1 coup.
The military carried out raids Saturday night, Sunday, against officials of the National League for Democracy party. “We don’t know how many people have been arrested,” said one of the party officials.
The coup plotters warned, through local media, that the deputies who did not recognize the legitimacy of the coup and formed a committee to represent the civil government were committing “high treason”, which could carry a prison sentence of up to 22 years.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since February 1, including local officials, politicians, journalists, activists and artists.
People arrested in Rangoon are often taken to Insane Prison, where many political prisoners carried out harsh punishments during previous dictatorships. The independent Association for the Assistance to Political Prisoners said more than 1,500 people have been detained so far.
As the situation deteriorated, several citizens fled Myanmar and some fifty people, including eight policemen who refused to participate in the crackdown, arrived in neighboring India.
Myanmar has asked India to return the eight policemen “in order to maintain good relations between the two countries.” Around 100 people were still gathered at the border, hoping that they would be allowed to enter India.
The United States and the European Union have announced measures against the military. However, observers ask to go further with the imposition of an international embargo on the delivery of arms to the army, in a resolution that requires the consensus of all members of the Security Council.
However, Beijing and Moscow, the two traditional army allies and arms exporters to the country, refuse to speak of a “coup”, while the Chinese news agency in early February described the incident as a “cabinet shakeup. “.
