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MANDALAY: Tens of thousands of opponents of Myanmar’s military coup gathered again on Sunday (February 21) in cities from north to south, unfazed by the bloodiest episode of their campaign the day before when police and soldiers opened fire in the Mandalay city, killing two.
Early Sunday morning, police arrested a famous actor wanted for supporting opposition to the coup, his wife said, while Facebook removed the army’s homepage under its rules prohibiting incitement to violence.
The army has been unable to quell the demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes against the coup and the arrest of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others, including with the promise of new elections, arrests and warnings against dissent.
In the main city of Yangon, several thousand young people gathered in two places to chant slogans, while hundreds gathered peacefully in the second city of Mandalay, according to images released by a media outlet.
In the northern city of Myitkyina, which has witnessed clashes in recent days, people laid flowers for the dead protesters as young people with banners rode motorcycles.
READ: Two killed when Myanmar police opened fire on protesters on deadliest day since military coup
Protesters hold up posters as they take part in a rally against the military coup in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP / Sai Aung Main).
Protesters hold up posters and show images of the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they participate in a demonstration against the military coup, in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP / Sai Aung Main).
Crowds marched in the central cities of Monywa and Bagan and in Dawei and Myeik in the south, released images showed.
“They targeted the heads of unarmed civilians. They targeted our future,” a young protester in Mandalay told the crowd.
Military spokesman Zaw Min Tun, who is also the spokesman for the new military council, has not responded to attempts by Reuters to contact him by phone for comment.
He told a press conference Tuesday that the army’s actions were within the constitution and supported by the majority of the people, and blamed the protesters for instigating the violence.
The more than two weeks of protests had been largely peaceful, unlike previous episodes of opposition during nearly half a century of direct military rule until 2011.
READ: Myanmar refugees in Malaysia face growing uncertainty following military coup
Protesters wearing T-shirts of the English Premier League football team Arsenal hold up posters and display images of the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they participate in a demonstration against the military coup in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo : AFP / Sai Aung Main)
Protesters hold up posters as they participate in a rally against the military coup in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP / Sai Aung Main).
“AGGRESSIVE PROTESTERS”
Ethnic minority members, poets and transport workers marched peacefully in various places on Saturday, but tension rose in Mandalay, where police and soldiers clashed with striking shipyard workers.
Some protesters fired catapults at the police while playing cat and mouse. Police responded with tear gas and fire at protesters, witnesses said.
Videos on social media showed members of the security forces shooting and witnesses said they found the spent cartridges of live bullets and rubber bullets.
Two people were shot dead, one was a teenager and 20 were injured, an emergency service said.
UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews said he was horrified.
“From water cannons to rubber bullets and tear gas and now hardened troops firing point-blank at peaceful protesters. This madness must end,” he said on Twitter.
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the strikers sabotaged boats and attacked police with clubs, knives and catapults. Eight police officers and several soldiers were injured, he said.
The newspaper did not mention the deaths but said: “Some of the aggressive protesters were also injured due to security measures carried out by the security force.”
READ: Facebook Removes Myanmar Army Home Page
Medical students in masks hold placards as they gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Feb. 21, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Medical students in masks hold placards as they gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Feb. 21, 2021. (Photo: AP)
A young protester became the first death among anti-coup protesters on Friday. He was shot in the head on February 9 in the capital, Naypyitaw. The army says a policeman died from injuries sustained in a protest.
The Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy (NLD) condemned the violence in Mandalay as a crime against humanity.
The military seized power after alleging fraud in the November 8 election that swept the NLD, detaining Suu Kyi and others. The electoral commission had dismissed the allegations of fraud.
Facebook said it took down the army’s main page, Tatmadaw True News Information, for repeated violations of its standards “which prohibit incitement to violence and coordinate harm.”
“DEEPLY CONCERNED”
Police arrested actor Lu Min in the early hours of Sunday, his wife, Khin Sabai Oo, said on Facebook.
Lu Min has been a prominent figure in the Yangon protests and was one of six celebrities wanted under an anti-incitement law for encouraging public officials to join the protest.
The activist group Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners says 569 people have been arrested in connection with the coup.
READ: Singapore Says Lethal Force Use In Myanmar Against Unarmed Protesters ‘Unforgivable’ After Deaths Reported
Anti-coup protesters hold a banner that reads: “Karen National Group! I don’t want a military dictatorship ”, during a silent protest outside the Hledan Center in Yangon, Myanmar, on February 21, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Anti-coup protesters with banners gather in front of the Hledan Center in Yangon, Myanmar, on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AP).
Western countries that previously condemned the coup demonstrated against the violence.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was “deeply concerned” by reports that security forces had fired on protesters.
France, Singapore and Britain also condemned the violence, and British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said that shooting at protesters was “beyond pale.”
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter that the deadly force was unacceptable.
LEE: The United States is ‘deeply concerned’ by reports that Myanmar security forces fired at protesters
Protesters hold up posters as they participate in a rally against the military coup in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP / Sai Aung Main).
Protesters hold up posters and show images of the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they participate in a demonstration against the military coup, in front of the Chinese embassy in Yangon on February 21, 2021 (Photo: AFP / Sai Aung Main).
The United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand have announced limited sanctions with a focus on military leaders, but the generals have ignored foreign pressure.
Aung San Suu Kyi faces one charge for violating a Natural Disaster Management Act and for illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. His next court appearance is March 1.
