Less than three weeks after the coup in Myanmar, thousands of demonstrators are continuing their protests against the military. One day after the largest rallies to date, tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan and tried to paralyze traffic at important intersections.
Many drivers in Yangon therefore drove at a snail’s pace. Yesterday many had simulated a breakdown in order to block police and army vehicles.
The military overthrew the government on February 1 and arrested de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi. Their party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), called for large rallies across the country.
That evening, under an anti-sedition law, the junta issued arrest warrants against six celebrities, including film directors, actors and a singer, for encouraging officials to participate in the protests. The charges can result in a two-year prison sentence.
Suu Kyi charged
Protest rallies have been held every day since February 6th. Sometimes hundreds of thousands of people came together. They are demanding the release of Suu Kyi and the deposed President Win Myint, who was also arrested on the day of the coup.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been charged with illegally importing and using six radios. On Tuesday, the 75-year-old was also accused at a court hearing via video link for violating the law on dealing with natural disasters. The next hearing is scheduled for March 1st.
