YANGON: Anti-coup protesters defied the warnings of Myanmar generals and demonstrated on Tuesday (February 9) for the fourth day in a row, after the army imposed a ban on assemblies in conflict sites.
The head of the junta, General Min Aung Hlaing, delivered a televised speech on Monday night to justify the seizure of power, while a military statement made it clear that action would soon be taken against the protesters.
The military banned gatherings of more than five people in parts of Yangon, the nation’s commercial capital, and other areas of the country where large demonstrations broke out over the weekend and Monday.
Those rallies had seen hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets.
READ: Martial Law Declared in Parts of Myanmar as Demonstrations Pile Pressure on Coup Leaders
On Tuesday morning, new protests broke out in various parts of Yangon, including near the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained by the military on the first day of the knock.
The protesters carried banners against the coup that included “We want our leader”, in reference to Aung San Suu Kyi, and “No to the dictatorship.”
In San Chaung Township, where large gatherings were specifically prohibited, dozens of teachers marched down the main road, making a defiant three-finger salute that has become the hallmark of the protesters.
“We are not worried about your warning. That is why we are leaving today. We cannot accept your excuse of electoral fraud. We do not want any military dictatorship,” Professor Thein Win Soe told AFP.
Myanmar’s military chief, General Min Aung Hlaing, stated that this time, things would be “different” from the previous 49-year reign of the army, which ended in 2011. (Photo: AFP / John SAEKI)
READ: Myanmar police fire a water cannon in Naypyidaw and warn protesters to disperse or face force
MILITARY PROMISES
In his televised speech, the first since the coup, Min Aung Hlaing insisted that the seizure of power was justified by “electoral fraud”.
The NLD won last November’s national elections by an overwhelming majority, but the military never accepted the legitimacy of the vote.
Shortly after the coup, the military announced a state of emergency for one year and promised to hold new elections.
Min Aung Hlaing insisted on Monday that the military would keep its promises. He also stated that things would be “different” from the army’s previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.
People hold signs as they join a rally to protest against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Yangon, Myanmar, on February 8, 2021. (Photo: REUTERS / Stringer)
READ: Comment: Myanmar’s military never intended to give up power
“Once the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held in accordance with the constitution,” he said.
“State duty will be transferred to the winning party in accordance with democratic standards.”
But those promises were accompanied by threats.
Faced with the increasingly bold wave of defiance, the military issued a statement on state television Monday warning that opposition to the junta was illegal.
“Actions must be taken in accordance with the law with effective measures against crimes that disturb, impede and destroy the stability of the state, public security and the rule of law,” said a statement read by an announcer on MRTV.
READ: Comment: Myanmar Coup Raises Biden’s First Foreign Policy Test in Southeast Asia
Police fire a water cannon at protesters demonstrating against the coup and demanding the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on February 8, 2021 (Photo: REUTERS / Stringer).
GLOBAL INDIGNATION
The United States has spearheaded global calls for generals to step down from power and issued a new statement on Monday following the board’s warnings against protesters.
“We support the people of Burma and support their right to peacefully assemble, including to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Monday, using Myanmar’s former name.
READ: Imposing sanctions on Myanmar’s military will work because it has worked in the past: UN expert
Price also said the United States’ requests to speak to Aung San Suu Kyi were denied.
Pope Francis on Monday called for the speedy release of the jailed political leaders.
“The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was abruptly interrupted by last week’s coup,” he told a meeting of diplomats.
“This has led to the imprisonment of different political leaders, who I hope will be released soon as a show of encouragement for sincere dialogue.”
The UN Human Rights Council said it would hold a relatively rare special session on Friday to discuss the crisis.
