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Thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon on Saturday in the first major demonstration since Myanmar’s military took power, despite a national blackout imposed to quell dissent.
The protesters chanted “Down with the military dictatorship” and carried images of the ousted leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, whose party won a landslide election in November. The military detained both in raids early Monday morning and they have not been seen in public since.
“Tell the world what has happened here,” said one of the protesters. “The world needs to know.”
The military shut down the Internet across the country in an attempt to stop the protests. The NetBlocks Internet Observatory reported that connectivity had dropped to 16% from normal levels in the early afternoon. The military had already blocked Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Amnesty International described the blackout as “egregious and reckless”.
Despite the restrictions, several thousand protesters gathered near the University of Yangon. Many wore red headbands, the color of the National League for Democracy, and raised their hands in a three-finger salute, a gesture also used by pro-democracy Thai protesters and symbolizing resistance.
Lines of riot police blocked nearby roads and two trucks with water cannons were parked nearby. Some protesters dispersed later, but others remained in place. According to Agence France-Presse, in the early afternoon, there had been no clashes.
At least two other groups of protesters marched through other parts of Myanmar’s main city, with AFP reporting that up to 2,000 people were marching further north to Mandalay.
Saturday’s protests were the largest since the military took power last week, sparking anger in the country and an avalanche of international condemnation. Myanmar spent nearly five decades under repressive military regimes before transitioning to a more democratic system in 2011.
“I always disliked the military, but now I am absolutely disgusted with them,” said Maea, 30.
“This is unacceptable and immoral and we must let them know. We need more people to join us, ”Sai 28 said.
Passersby cheered for the protesters, with drivers waving three fingers in solidarity and playing a song that became an anthem during the country’s pro-democracy uprising in 1988, which was brutally suppressed by the military.
A campaign of civil disobedience has grown in recent days, with many doctors and teachers refusing to work. Every night around 8pm, the sound of metal echoes through Yangon as residents bang on pots and pans in solidarity.
The military has justified its inauguration by accusing the NLD of widespread fraud in the November elections, but has not provided credible evidence. The NLD won 396 of 476 seats, an even better performance than in the historic 2015 elections, when the country held its first free vote in decades.
The military-backed Union, Solidarity and Development party suffered a humiliating defeat and won only 33 seats.
Aung San Suu Kyi, who previously spent 15 years in detention campaigning against the military government and remains very popular in the country, has been accused of illegally importing six walkie-talkies. President Win Myint is accused of disobeying Covid-19 restrictions. Sean Turnell, Australian economic adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi, said in a message to Reuters on Saturday morning that he was also in detention.
The UN security council issued a statement last week expressing deep concern over the arbitrary detention of lawmakers, and the United States has threatened sanctions.
Myanmar civil society organizations urged internet and mobile network providers not to comply with the board’s orders, accusing them of “legitimizing military authority.”
Norwegian mobile network provider Telenor ASA said it had emphasized to authorities that access to telecommunications services should be maintained, but that it was subject to local law and that its first priority was the safety of its local workers.
The UN human rights office said on Saturday that “communication services and the Internet must be fully restored to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information.”
