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YANGON: Myanmar police on Saturday (February 27) stepped up their crackdown on protesters against this month’s military takeover, deploying early and vigorously as protesters sought to rally in the country’s two largest cities.
Myanmar police also fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon, after the country’s ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional call for action against the military junta.
The country has been rocked by a wave of pro-democracy protests since a military coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.
The authorities have gradually intensified the use of force to suppress dissent, using tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse some protests. Live rounds have been used in isolated cases.
READ: Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN calls on the world body to take action to end the military coup
In Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, on Saturday, police used rubber bullets to disperse a demonstration at the Myaynigone crossing, the site of an hours-long clash on Friday.
“What are the police doing? They are protecting a mad dictator,” the protesters chanted as they were chased away by the police.
Hundreds of Mon protesters had gathered there to mark National Mon Day, along with other ethnic minority groups to protest the coup.
They dispersed down smaller residential streets and began building makeshift barricades with barbed wire and tables to stop the police. Many wore helmets and gas masks, wielding homemade shields to protect themselves.
At least 15 people were arrested, a police officer confirmed.
Local reporters broadcast the chaotic scenes live on Facebook, including the moments when the shots rang out, which were also witnessed by AFP reporters on the ground.
“We will try to find another way to protest, of course we fear their repression,” said protester Moe Moe, 23, who used a pseudonym.
“We want to fight until we win.”
Among those arrested were three journalists: an Associated Press photographer, a Myanmar Now videojournalist and a photographer for the Myanmar Pressphoto agency.
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Myanmar’s crisis took a dramatic turn on the international stage on Friday when the country’s ambassador to the United Nations in a special session of the General Assembly declared his allegiance to the ousted civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and called on the world to put pressure on the military to give up power.
“We need … the most energetic action possible from the international community to immediately end the military coup, stop oppressing innocent people, return state power to the people and restore democracy,” Kyaw Moe Tun pleaded, his voice broken with emotion.
Speaking briefly in Burmese, he pleaded with his “brothers and sisters” to continue fighting to end the military regime.
“This revolution must win,” he said, displaying at the end the three-finger salute that has become a symbol of resistance against the junta.
His call for democracy broke with the current rulers of Myanmar, something extremely rare for a UN representative, and was met with applause in the chamber.
The junta has repeatedly justified its seizure of power by alleging widespread electoral fraud in the November elections, which Aung San Suu Kyi’s party had overwhelmingly won, and promised new elections within a year.
The head of the army, General Min Aung Hlaing, now has legislative, executive and judicial powers in Myanmar, effectively stopping the 10-year experiment with democracy in the country.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has not been seen publicly since her arrest, now faces two charges for having unregistered walkie-talkies at her residence and for violating coronavirus rules.
While the Nobel laureate is expected to have a hearing on Monday, her lawyer has not yet been able to reach her.
More than 770 people have been detained, charged and convicted since the February 1 coup, according to the watchdog group the Association for the Assistance to Political Prisoners, and about 680 remain behind bars.
But protests have continued apace across Myanmar, from the remote mountain ranges of the northern state of Chin to the southern coastal city of Dawei.
