The Association of South-East Asian Nations held a virtual meet over the Myanmar crisis. Myanmar's neighbours have pressed the military to release the Aung San Suu Kyi.

ASEAN nations call for Aung San Suu Kyi's release

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/italy-germany-summon-myanmar-envoy-over-protest-crackdown-367274">Myanmar</a> police opened fire on protesters once again on Tuesday in&nbsp;Yangon as anti-military protests continued in the country.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-one-month-since-military-control-367281/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The protesters had gathered in different parts of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/asean-foreign-ministers-to-meet-on-myanmar-tomorrow-367236">Yangon</a> clutching makeshift shields as they chanted slogans against the military as authorities moved to quell the demonstrations.

Reports said several people were injured in the northwestern town of Kale after police fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd.&nbsp;

At least 21 protesters were killed over the weekend as authorities fired live rounds amid an escalation of violence in the country.

The increase in violence comes as foreign ministers of neighbouring countries are due to hold talks with the military as demonstrators continue to demand restoration of democracy in the country.

The military had taken ousted<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-aung-san-suu-kyi-appears-in-court-via-video-two-new-criminal-charges-filed-367060"> Aung San Suu Kyi's </a>democratically elected government on February 1 and imposed a state of emergency for one year triggering nationwide protests.

Several nations have condemned the coup with Canada, Britain and the US imposing sanctions against Myanmar generals involved in the military coup.

The military junta had complained of voter fraud during the November elections, a charge dismissed by the country's election authorities, including Germany and Italy who called on Myanmar envoys to restore democracy.

Myanmar police opened fire on protesters once again on Tuesday in Yangon as anti-military protests continued in the country. Watch: The protesters had gathered in different parts of Yangon clutching makeshift shields as they chanted slogans against the military as authorities moved to quell the demonstrations.

Myanmar police opened fire on protesters once again on Tuesday in Yangon as anti-military protests continued in the country. Watch: The protesters had gathered in different parts of Yangon clutching makeshift shields as they chanted slogans against the military as authorities moved to quell the demonstrations. Reports said several people were injured in the northwestern town of Kale after police fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd. At least 21 protesters were killed over the weekend as authorities fired live rounds amid an escalation of violence in the country. The increase in violence comes as foreign ministers of neighbouring countries are due to hold talks with the military as demonstrators continue to demand restoration of democracy in the country. The military had taken ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government on February 1 and imposed a state of emergency for one year triggering nationwide protests. Several nations have condemned the coup with Canada, Britain and the US imposing sanctions against Myanmar generals involved in the military coup. The military junta had complained of voter fraud during the November elections, a charge dismissed by the country's election authorities, including Germany and Italy who called on Myanmar envoys to restore democracy.

Myanmar police opens fire on protesters as ASEAN ministers aim for talks

As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/asean-foreign-ministers-to-meet-on-myanmar-tomorrow-367236">Myanmar </a>military continued its crackdown, the Italian and German governments on Monday summoned Myanmar's ambassador over the violence in the country and&nbsp;expressed their&nbsp;condemnation.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-myanmars-bloody-sunday-367256/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seiber said: "Such deadly violence against peaceful demonstrators can not be justified."&nbsp;

Italy said it had requested&nbsp;the "military authorities immediately put an end to all violent repression of the democratic protests underway in the country."

"The ministry also emphasised the illegitimacy of the military's decision to cancel the November elections," Italy's foreign ministry said. The move comes as National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges on Monday, a month after the coup triggered mass protests.

The military had taken ousted Suu Kyi's government on February 1 and imposed a state of emergency for one year and detained several top NLD leaders close to Suu Kyi.

On Sunday, at least 18 people were killed as police opened fire on demonstrators in cities across <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-protesters-prepare-for-confrontation-after-bloodiest-day-so-far-366977">Myanmar</a>. The Italian government urged the Myanmar ambassador to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arrested in connection with the coup.&nbsp;

Germany&nbsp;backed the Italian government as it called Myanmar's military to return to&nbsp;the democratic process through dialogue and to release Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

"We summoned Myanmar's ambassador today to make this position clear," the German government asserted.

As the Myanmar military continued its crackdown, the Italian and German governments on Monday summoned Myanmar's ambassador over the violence in the country and expressed their condemnation.

As the Myanmar military continued its crackdown, the Italian and German governments on Monday summoned Myanmar's ambassador over the violence in the country and expressed their condemnation. Watch: Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seiber said: "Such deadly violence against peaceful demonstrators can not be justified." Italy said it had requested the "military authorities immediately put an end to all violent repression of the democratic protests underway in the country." "The ministry also emphasised the illegitimacy of the military's decision to cancel the November elections," Italy's foreign ministry said. The move comes as National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges on Monday, a month after the coup triggered mass protests. The military had taken ousted Suu Kyi's government on February 1 and imposed a state of emergency for one year and detained several top NLD leaders close to Suu Kyi. On Sunday, at least 18 people were killed as police opened fire on demonstrators in cities across Myanmar. The Italian government urged the Myanmar ambassador to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all those arrested in connection with the coup. Germany backed the Italian government as it called Myanmar's military to return to the democratic process through dialogue and to release Suu Kyi. "We summoned Myanmar's ambassador today to make this position clear," the German government asserted.

Italy, Germany summon Myanmar envoy over protest crackdown

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar on Monday prepared for demonstrations following what was the bloodiest day till date amid crackdown by the military. On Sunday, at least 18 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters. There was violence in various parts of the country on Sunday. Police opened fire on crowds in several parts of capital Yangon.

On Monday, Reuters quoted witnesses who said that at least 10 police and military vehicles were parked at an intersection in Yangon where protesters clashed with the security forces.

As per Reuters the military has not commented on Sunday's violence and police and military spokesmen did not answer calls.

There are rising calls from various countries in world to control situation which is definitely showing signs of becoming more violent with each passing day.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the "abhorrent violence" by security forces. &nbsp;Canada's foreign minister, Marc Garneau, called the military's use of lethal force against its own people "appalling".

Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on Feb. 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide.

Suu Kyi faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols. Her latest court hearing is scheduled for Monday.

Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar said it was clear the junta's assault would continue so the international community needed to ratchet up its response.

He proposed a global arms embargo, more sanctions from more countries on those behind the coup, sanctions on the military's businesses and a U.N Security Council referral to the International Criminal Court.

"Words of condemnation are welcome but insufficient. We must act," Andrews said in a statement.

"The nightmare in Myanmar that is unfolding before our eyes will get worse. The world must act."

(With Reuters inputs)

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar on Monday prepared for demonstrations following what was the bloodiest day till date amid crackdown by the military. On Sunday, at least 18 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters.

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar on Monday prepared for demonstrations following what was the bloodiest day till date amid crackdown by the military. On Sunday, at least 18 people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters. There was violence in various parts of the country on Sunday. Police opened fire on crowds in several parts of capital Yangon. On Monday, Reuters quoted witnesses who said that at least 10 police and military vehicles were parked at an intersection in Yangon where protesters clashed with the security forces. As per Reuters the military has not commented on Sunday's violence and police and military spokesmen did not answer calls. There are rising calls from various countries in world to control situation which is definitely showing signs of becoming more violent with each passing day. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the "abhorrent violence" by security forces. Canada's foreign minister, Marc Garneau, called the military's use of lethal force against its own people "appalling". Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on Feb. 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide. Suu Kyi faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols. Her latest court hearing is scheduled for Monday. Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar said it was clear the junta's assault would continue so the international community needed to ratchet up its response. He proposed a global arms embargo, more sanctions from more countries on those behind the coup, sanctions on the military's businesses and a U.N Security Council referral to the International Criminal Court. "Words of condemnation are welcome but insufficient. We must act," Andrews said in a statement. "The nightmare in Myanmar that is unfolding before our eyes will get worse. The world must act." (With Reuters inputs)

Myanmar protesters prepare for confrontation after bloodiest day so far

Myanmar court has filed another charge against leader Aung San Suu Kyi under the section of the colonial-era penal code prohibiting publication of information that may cause fear or alarm of disrupt.

Myanmar court files another charge against Suu Kyi under colonial-era penal code

Myanmar security forces continued their crackdown and violently dispersed ant-coup protesters on Sunday. Three protesters were killed as per local media. Police and soldiers had already fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon on demonstrations in recent weeks in an effort to bring the civil disobedience campaign to heel, with live rounds used in some isolated cases.

The build-up of forces was effected on Sunday as protesters started gathering in different parts of the country. The protesters gathered after an online call for protests.

Three men were killed and at least 20 others injured when security forces moved on a rally in the southern coastal hub of Dawei, according to a volunteer medic and local media reports.

Pyae Zaw Hein, a rescue worker, told AFP the trio had been "shot dead with live rounds", while the injured had been hit by rubber bullets.

"There could be many more casualties as well because more wounded people keep coming in," he added.

Local media outlet Dawei Watch confirmed that three had died in the incident.

Officers in the commercial hub Yangon began dispersing one crowd in the downtown area minutes before the slated beginning of the day's protest, but it was unclear whether they used live rounds.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-military-coup-un-envoy-who-delivered-impassioned-speech-fired-366723">Myanmar military coup: UN envoy who delivered impassioned speech fired</a>

"Police started shooting just as we arrived," said Amy Kyaw, a 29-year-old primary school teacher in a downtown Yangon neighbourhood.

"They didn't say a word of warning. Some got injured and some teachers are still hiding in neighbours' houses."

Live broadcasts on social media showed security forces using tear gas to clear some crowds in Yangon as well as water cannon further north in Mandalay, the country's cultural capital.

Myanmar envoy to UN fired

Meanwhile, Myanmar's military regime on Saturday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-military-coup-un-envoy-who-delivered-impassioned-speech-fired-366723">fired Myanmar's envoy to United Nations</a> Kyaw Moe Tun just a day after he made an impassioned speech in the UN.

In his speech, Tun implored international community to act against the military junta that toppled the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 2021. He even made the three-fingered salute that has come to symbolise the spirit of Myanmar's anti-coup protests.

(With AFP inputs)

Myanmar security forces continued their crackdown and violently dispersed ant-coup protesters on Sunday. Three protesters were killed as per local media. Police and soldiers had already fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon on demonstrations in recent weeks in an effort to bring the civil disobedience campaign to heel, with live rounds used in some isolated cases.

Myanmar security forces continued their crackdown and violently dispersed ant-coup protesters on Sunday. Three protesters were killed as per local media. Police and soldiers had already fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon on demonstrations in recent weeks in an effort to bring the civil disobedience campaign to heel, with live rounds used in some isolated cases. The build-up of forces was effected on Sunday as protesters started gathering in different parts of the country. The protesters gathered after an online call for protests. Three men were killed and at least 20 others injured when security forces moved on a rally in the southern coastal hub of Dawei, according to a volunteer medic and local media reports. Pyae Zaw Hein, a rescue worker, told AFP the trio had been "shot dead with live rounds", while the injured had been hit by rubber bullets. "There could be many more casualties as well because more wounded people keep coming in," he added. Local media outlet Dawei Watch confirmed that three had died in the incident. Officers in the commercial hub Yangon began dispersing one crowd in the downtown area minutes before the slated beginning of the day's protest, but it was unclear whether they used live rounds. Also Read | Myanmar military coup: UN envoy who delivered impassioned speech fired "Police started shooting just as we arrived," said Amy Kyaw, a 29-year-old primary school teacher in a downtown Yangon neighbourhood. "They didn't say a word of warning. Some got injured and some teachers are still hiding in neighbours' houses." Live broadcasts on social media showed security forces using tear gas to clear some crowds in Yangon as well as water cannon further north in Mandalay, the country's cultural capital. Myanmar envoy to UN fired Meanwhile, Myanmar's military regime on Saturday fired Myanmar's envoy to United Nations Kyaw Moe Tun just a day after he made an impassioned speech in the UN. In his speech, Tun implored international community to act against the military junta that toppled the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 2021. He even made the three-fingered salute that has come to symbolise the spirit of Myanmar's anti-coup protests. (With AFP inputs)

Myanmar forces continue crackdown, 3 protesters reportedly killed

The United Nations condemned a violent crackdown in Myanmar on Sunday and urged the country's military rulers to stop using force on peaceful demonstrators.

"We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said in a statement.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on February 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide.

The coup, which brought a halt to tentative steps towards democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets and the condemnation of Western countries.

On Sunday, the police fired on protesters&nbsp;in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a military coup and over ten people were killed and several wounded. The UN human rights office and Reuters&nbsp;said at least 18 people were dead.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-bloodiest-day-as-at-least-five-dead-in-clashes-between-protesters-and-police-366838">Also read |&nbsp;Bloodiest day as at least five dead in clashes between protesters and police</a>

Police were out in force early and opened fire in different parts of the biggest city of Yangon after stun grenades, tear gas and shots in the air failed to break up crowds. Soldiers also reinforced police.

Several wounded people were hauled away by fellow protesters, leaving bloody smears on pavements, media images showed. One man died after being brought to a hospital with a bullet in the chest, said a doctor who asked not to be identified.

Police also opened fire in Dawei in the south, killing three and wounding several, politician Kyaw Min Htike told Reuters from the town.

The dead in Yangon included a teacher, Tin New Yee, who died after police swooped to disperse a teachers' protest with stun grenades, sending the crowd fleeing, her daughter and a fellow teacher said.

Police also hurled stun grenades outside a Yangon medical school, sending doctors and students in white lab coats scattering. A group called the Whitecoat Alliance of medics said more than 50 medical staff had been arrested.

Police broke up protests in other towns, including Lashio in the northeast, Myeik in the deep south and Hpa-An in the east, residents and media said.

Nevertheless, at least 14 protesters have now died in the turmoil. The army said a policeman has been killed.

The crackdown would appear to indicate determination by the military to impose its authority in the face of defiance, not just on the streets but more broadly in the civil service, municipal administration, the judiciary, the education and health sectors and the media.

While Western countries have condemned the coup and some have imposed limited sanctions, the generals have traditionally shrugged off diplomatic pressure. They have promised to hold a new election but not set a date.

Suu Kyi's party and supporters said the result of the November vote must be respected.

Suu Kyi, 75, who spent nearly 15 years under house arrest, faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols. The next hearing in her case is on Monday.

A UN official said the office had confirmed at least five people dead in Yangon. Police Sunday also opened fire in Dawei in the south, killing three and wounding several.

The Myanmar Now media outlet reported two people had been killed in a protest in the second city of Mandalay. Security forces fired again later in the day and one woman was killed.

(with inputs from agencies)

The United Nations condemned a violent crackdown in Myanmar on Sunday and urged the country's military rulers to stop using force on peaceful demonstrators. "We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said in a statement.

The United Nations condemned a violent crackdown in Myanmar on Sunday and urged the country's military rulers to stop using force on peaceful demonstrators. "We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said in a statement. Myanmar has been in chaos since the army seized power and detained elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership on February 1, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide. The coup, which brought a halt to tentative steps towards democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule, has drawn hundreds of thousands onto the streets and the condemnation of Western countries. On Sunday, the police fired on protesters in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a military coup and over ten people were killed and several wounded. The UN human rights office and Reuters said at least 18 people were dead. Also read | Bloodiest day as at least five dead in clashes between protesters and police Police were out in force early and opened fire in different parts of the biggest city of Yangon after stun grenades, tear gas and shots in the air failed to break up crowds. Soldiers also reinforced police. Several wounded people were hauled away by fellow protesters, leaving bloody smears on pavements, media images showed. One man died after being brought to a hospital with a bullet in the chest, said a doctor who asked not to be identified. Police also opened fire in Dawei in the south, killing three and wounding several, politician Kyaw Min Htike told Reuters from the town. The dead in Yangon included a teacher, Tin New Yee, who died after police swooped to disperse a teachers' protest with stun grenades, sending the crowd fleeing, her daughter and a fellow teacher said. Police also hurled stun grenades outside a Yangon medical school, sending doctors and students in white lab coats scattering. A group called the Whitecoat Alliance of medics said more than 50 medical staff had been arrested. Police broke up protests in other towns, including Lashio in the northeast, Myeik in the deep south and Hpa-An in the east, residents and media said. Nevertheless, at least 14 protesters have now died in the turmoil. The army said a policeman has been killed. The crackdown would appear to indicate determination by the military to impose its authority in the face of defiance, not just on the streets but more broadly in the civil service, municipal administration, the judiciary, the education and health sectors and the media. While Western countries have condemned the coup and some have imposed limited sanctions, the generals have traditionally shrugged off diplomatic pressure. They have promised to hold a new election but not set a date. Suu Kyi's party and supporters said the result of the November vote must be respected. Suu Kyi, 75, who spent nearly 15 years under house arrest, faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols. The next hearing in her case is on Monday. A UN official said the office had confirmed at least five people dead in Yangon. Police Sunday also opened fire in Dawei in the south, killing three and wounding several. The Myanmar Now media outlet reported two people had been killed in a protest in the second city of Mandalay. Security forces fired again later in the day and one woman was killed. (with inputs from agencies)

UN rights office condemns Myanmar crackdown, at least 18 dead on bloodiest day of protests

At least one woman was shot and wounded, and hundreds&nbsp;of people were arrested as police launched their most sweeping crackdown in three weeks of protests against military rule on Saturday in towns and cities across Myanmar.

Three domestic media outlets said earlier that the woman shot in the central town of Monwya had died but an ambulance service official said she was in hospital.

The violence came after Myanmar's UN envoy, saying he was speaking for the ousted civilian government, urged the United Nations to use "any means necessary" to reverse the February 1 coup.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide. Suu Kyi, 75, spent nearly 15 years under house arrest during military rule. She faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols.

The coup, which stalled Myanmar's progress toward democracy, has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets and drawn condemnation from Western countries, with some imposing limited sanctions.

Police were out in force in cities and towns from early on Saturday in their most determined effort yet to stamp out the protests.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hours-after-myanmar-envoys-un-speech-police-fire-rubber-bullets-at-protesters-366601">Also read |&nbsp;Hours after Myanmar envoy's UN speech, police fire rubber bullets at protesters</a>

State-run MRTV television said more than 470 people had been arrested across the country. It said police had given warnings before dispersing people with stun grenades.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group said it believed the number of arrests was higher, with at least 10 prison buses carrying 40 to 50 people each taken to the Insein Prison in Yangon.

In the main city of Yangon, police took up positions at usual protest sites and detained people as they congregated. Several journalists were also detained.

Confrontations developed as more people came out despite the police operation.

Crowds chanted and sang then scattered into side streets and buildings as police advanced, firing tear gas, setting off stun grenades and shooting guns into the air, witnesses said.

Similar scenes played out in the second city of Mandalay and other towns, witnesses and media said. Among those detained in Mandalay was Win Mya Mya, one of two Muslim members of parliament for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD).

Also, uncertainty has grown over Suu Kyi's whereabouts, as an independent media website on Friday quoted officials of her party as saying she had been moved this week from house arrest to an undisclosed location.

Activists called for another day of protests on Sunday.

(with inputs)

At least one woman was shot and wounded, and hundreds of people were arrested as police launched their most sweeping crackdown in three weeks of protests against military rule on Saturday in towns and cities across Myanmar.

At least one woman was shot and wounded, and hundreds of people were arrested as police launched their most sweeping crackdown in three weeks of protests against military rule on Saturday in towns and cities across Myanmar. Three domestic media outlets said earlier that the woman shot in the central town of Monwya had died but an ambulance service official said she was in hospital. The violence came after Myanmar's UN envoy, saying he was speaking for the ousted civilian government, urged the United Nations to use "any means necessary" to reverse the February 1 coup. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power and detained elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership, alleging fraud in a November election her party won in a landslide. Suu Kyi, 75, spent nearly 15 years under house arrest during military rule. She faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios and of violating a natural disaster law by breaching coronavirus protocols. The coup, which stalled Myanmar's progress toward democracy, has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets and drawn condemnation from Western countries, with some imposing limited sanctions. Police were out in force in cities and towns from early on Saturday in their most determined effort yet to stamp out the protests. Also read | Hours after Myanmar envoy's UN speech, police fire rubber bullets at protesters State-run MRTV television said more than 470 people had been arrested across the country. It said police had given warnings before dispersing people with stun grenades. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group said it believed the number of arrests was higher, with at least 10 prison buses carrying 40 to 50 people each taken to the Insein Prison in Yangon. In the main city of Yangon, police took up positions at usual protest sites and detained people as they congregated. Several journalists were also detained. Confrontations developed as more people came out despite the police operation. Crowds chanted and sang then scattered into side streets and buildings as police advanced, firing tear gas, setting off stun grenades and shooting guns into the air, witnesses said. Similar scenes played out in the second city of Mandalay and other towns, witnesses and media said. Among those detained in Mandalay was Win Mya Mya, one of two Muslim members of parliament for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD). Also, uncertainty has grown over Suu Kyi's whereabouts, as an independent media website on Friday quoted officials of her party as saying she had been moved this week from house arrest to an undisclosed location. Activists called for another day of protests on Sunday. (with inputs)

One woman shot and wounded in Myanmar police's crackdown on protests

Myanmar police fired rubber bullets in order to disperse protesters in capital Yangon on Saturday, reported AFP. This has come just hours after Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations made an emotional plea to the international community for action against the military junta. It was unclear if any live rounds were used. Police chased protesters and journalists from the Myaynigone junction.

There had been an hours-long standoff on Friday at the same spot.

Hundreds of ethnic Mon protesters gathered there on Saturday to commemorate Mon National Day, joined by other ethnic minority groups to protest against the coup.

The police arrived to clear the intersection, chasing protesters and journalists who ran to hide in nearby buildings.

Three journalists were among those detained on Saturday.

"What are the police doing? They are protecting a crazy dictator," the protesters chanted.

They scattered into smaller residential streets and started building makeshift barricades out of barbed wire and tables to stop the police.

Local reporters broadcast the chaotic scenes live on Facebook, including the moments when the shots rang out.

Three domestic media outlets in Myanmar reported that a woman was shot and killed in central town of Monwya

The developments on Saturday assume importance as they took place just hours after Myanmar's envoy at UN <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/take-strongest-action-to-end-coup-myanmar-envoy-makes-emotional-plea-in-un-366580">broke rank to urge the international community</a> to do something about the situation in Myanmar.

"We need... the strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup, to stop oppressing the innocent people, to return the state power to the people, and to restore the democracy," Kyaw Moe Tun, the envoy, said.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/take-strongest-action-to-end-coup-myanmar-envoy-makes-emotional-plea-in-un-366580">'Take strongest action to end coup': Myanmar envoy makes emotional plea in UN</a>

His speech was impassioned and his voice trembled as he made his point.

(With agency&nbsp;inputs)

Myanmar police fired rubber bullets in order to disperse protesters in capital Yangon on Saturday, reported AFP. This has come just hours after Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations made an emotional plea to the international community for action against the military junta.

Myanmar police fired rubber bullets in order to disperse protesters in capital Yangon on Saturday, reported AFP. This has come just hours after Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations made an emotional plea to the international community for action against the military junta. It was unclear if any live rounds were used. Police chased protesters and journalists from the Myaynigone junction. There had been an hours-long standoff on Friday at the same spot. Hundreds of ethnic Mon protesters gathered there on Saturday to commemorate Mon National Day, joined by other ethnic minority groups to protest against the coup. The police arrived to clear the intersection, chasing protesters and journalists who ran to hide in nearby buildings. Three journalists were among those detained on Saturday. "What are the police doing? They are protecting a crazy dictator," the protesters chanted. They scattered into smaller residential streets and started building makeshift barricades out of barbed wire and tables to stop the police. Local reporters broadcast the chaotic scenes live on Facebook, including the moments when the shots rang out. Three domestic media outlets in Myanmar reported that a woman was shot and killed in central town of Monwya The developments on Saturday assume importance as they took place just hours after Myanmar's envoy at UN broke rank to urge the international community to do something about the situation in Myanmar. "We need... the strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup, to stop oppressing the innocent people, to return the state power to the people, and to restore the democracy," Kyaw Moe Tun, the envoy, said. Also Read | 'Take strongest action to end coup': Myanmar envoy makes emotional plea in UN His speech was impassioned and his voice trembled as he made his point. (With agency inputs)

Hours after Myanmar envoy's UN speech, police fire rubber bullets at protesters

Refusal of many Myanmar's civil servants to work for the junta has made matters worse for military due to paralysing of bureaucracy. Public hospitals are deserted. Government offices left dark. And the trains don't leave the stations.

The growing civil disobedience movement is thwarting the generals' plans to control the political situation in the country.

"The military needs to prove that they can manage the country well as a government. But if we... the civil servants don't work, their plan to take power will fail," Thida, a public university lecturer who asked to use a pseudonym, told AFP Monday as cities were brought to a standstill by the largest strike yet.

Thida has refused to teach her online classes. Work stoppage in private sector has hollowed out offices and factories. Even many bank branches are shut.

But it is the civil servants' swelling ranks within the resistance that has the junta particularly rattled.

Without them, it is unable to collect taxes, send out electricity bills, test the population for Covid-19 or simply keep the country running.

The spectre of a financial crisis -- already brewing because of the pandemic downturn and a decline in foreign investment -- looms large.

Cracks starting to show

It remains unclear how many of the roughly one million public sector workers are participating.

One crowdsourced survey found members of all 24 government ministries are now involved, while the UN special rapporteur on&nbsp; 
Myanmar has estimated three-quarters of the civil servants are on strike.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/coup-chaos-leaves-employers-fretting-over-paying-staff-in-myanmar-366244">Coup chaos leaves employers fretting over paying staff in Myanmar</a>

Civil servants' absence has begun to show its effect.

Nearly one-third of the nation's hospitals are no longer functioning, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said this week.

Decrying medical professionals' failure to fulfil their duties, he hinted that working doctors and teachers would soon receive cash rewards, according to remarks reported by state media Tuesday.

One doctor told AFP that staff shortages meant his hospital has had to turn away new patients. Medical "cover teams" have formed to provide emergency treatment to protesters under fire from rubber bullets and live ammunition.

Paper pushing in government departments has all but halted, according to local media reports, and around the country clerks, drivers and administrators have been dismissed over their absence.

"The military didn't anticipate that a large part of the civil service would walk out and leave them without a state apparatus," said an analyst who asked to remain anonymous as the junta has detained more than 700 of its critics.

(With inputs from AFP)

Refusal of many Myanmar's civil servants to work for the junta has made matters worse for military due to paralysing of bureaucracy. Public hospitals are deserted.

Refusal of many Myanmar's civil servants to work for the junta has made matters worse for military due to paralysing of bureaucracy. Public hospitals are deserted. Government offices left dark. And the trains don't leave the stations. The growing civil disobedience movement is thwarting the generals' plans to control the political situation in the country. "The military needs to prove that they can manage the country well as a government. But if we... the civil servants don't work, their plan to take power will fail," Thida, a public university lecturer who asked to use a pseudonym, told AFP Monday as cities were brought to a standstill by the largest strike yet. Thida has refused to teach her online classes. Work stoppage in private sector has hollowed out offices and factories. Even many bank branches are shut. But it is the civil servants' swelling ranks within the resistance that has the junta particularly rattled. Without them, it is unable to collect taxes, send out electricity bills, test the population for Covid-19 or simply keep the country running. The spectre of a financial crisis -- already brewing because of the pandemic downturn and a decline in foreign investment -- looms large. Cracks starting to show It remains unclear how many of the roughly one million public sector workers are participating. One crowdsourced survey found members of all 24 government ministries are now involved, while the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar has estimated three-quarters of the civil servants are on strike. Also Read | Coup chaos leaves employers fretting over paying staff in Myanmar Civil servants' absence has begun to show its effect. Nearly one-third of the nation's hospitals are no longer functioning, coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said this week. Decrying medical professionals' failure to fulfil their duties, he hinted that working doctors and teachers would soon receive cash rewards, according to remarks reported by state media Tuesday. One doctor told AFP that staff shortages meant his hospital has had to turn away new patients. Medical "cover teams" have formed to provide emergency treatment to protesters under fire from rubber bullets and live ammunition. Paper pushing in government departments has all but halted, according to local media reports, and around the country clerks, drivers and administrators have been dismissed over their absence. "The military didn't anticipate that a large part of the civil service would walk out and leave them without a state apparatus," said an analyst who asked to remain anonymous as the junta has detained more than 700 of its critics. (With inputs from AFP)

Myanmar: Civil servants' strike makes it difficult for military

Myanmar military junta's foreign minister on Wednesday visited Thailand as efforts were on by the regional countries to broker end to three weeks of deadly unrest that has&nbsp;been triggered by military coup. Indonesia is in talks with the military junta as well.

Foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin held talks with his counterparts from Thailand and Indonesia in what was the first known face-to-face meetings between a senior junta member and foreign government officials.

The international condemnation over the coup has not deterred military junta so far. Daily nationwide protests have rocked Myanmar ever since government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi was removed by the military in February 1 coup.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she expressed concerns about the safety and welfare of Myanmar citizens and reiterated a need for an "inclusive democratic transition process".

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"We ask all parties to exercise restraint and not use violence to avoid casualties and bloodshed," she told reporters in Jakarta.

Marsudi has been on a "shuttle diplomacy" mission over the past two weeks discussing the Myanmar crisis during visits to Brunei and Singapore as well as phone calls with other Southeast Asian counterparts.

She had hoped to travel to Naypyidaw after her visit to Bangkok to directly convey messages from Indonesia and other countries but confirmed the visit had to be postponed.

<h1>'Stop negotiating with them'</h1>

For second consecutive day on Wednesday, Indonesian embassy in Yangon saw gathering of protesters that decriedn Indonesian efforts to have a dialogue with military junta.

Angered that Jakarta was talking with the junta government -- officially named the State Administration Council -- demonstrators carried signs reading: "Stop negotiating with them" and "Indonesia, don't support dictator".

"The Military's State Administration Council is not our legitimate government," said participant Seinn Lae Maung, who had a Myanmar flag painted on her face.

"Please respect our votes and do hear our voices."

Marsudi later hit back at the criticism, warning: "To do nothing is not an option."

(With AFP inputs)

Myanmar military junta's foreign minister on Wednesday visited Thailand as efforts were on by the regional countries to broker end to three weeks of deadly unrest that has been triggered by military coup.

Myanmar military junta's foreign minister on Wednesday visited Thailand as efforts were on by the regional countries to broker end to three weeks of deadly unrest that has been triggered by military coup. Indonesia is in talks with the military junta as well. Foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin held talks with his counterparts from Thailand and Indonesia in what was the first known face-to-face meetings between a senior junta member and foreign government officials. The international condemnation over the coup has not deterred military junta so far. Daily nationwide protests have rocked Myanmar ever since government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi was removed by the military in February 1 coup. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said she expressed concerns about the safety and welfare of Myanmar citizens and reiterated a need for an "inclusive democratic transition process". × "We ask all parties to exercise restraint and not use violence to avoid casualties and bloodshed," she told reporters in Jakarta. Marsudi has been on a "shuttle diplomacy" mission over the past two weeks discussing the Myanmar crisis during visits to Brunei and Singapore as well as phone calls with other Southeast Asian counterparts. She had hoped to travel to Naypyidaw after her visit to Bangkok to directly convey messages from Indonesia and other countries but confirmed the visit had to be postponed. 'Stop negotiating with them' For second consecutive day on Wednesday, Indonesian embassy in Yangon saw gathering of protesters that decriedn Indonesian efforts to have a dialogue with military junta. Angered that Jakarta was talking with the junta government -- officially named the State Administration Council -- demonstrators carried signs reading: "Stop negotiating with them" and "Indonesia, don't support dictator". "The Military's State Administration Council is not our legitimate government," said participant Seinn Lae Maung, who had a Myanmar flag painted on her face. "Please respect our votes and do hear our voices." Marsudi later hit back at the criticism, warning: "To do nothing is not an option." (With AFP inputs)

Myanmar military junta's foreign minister in talks with Indonesia, Thailand

Supporters of the military junta in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/facebook-bans-myanmar-military-junta-from-its-platforms-366100">Myanmar</a> clashed with anti-military protesters in Yangon on Thursday.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/your-story-myanmar-military-junta-threatens-to-take-actions-against-media-portals-365751/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Reports claimed at least 1,000 supporters of the military gathered in central Yangon with some wielding knives with signs carrying "we stand with the defence services", referring to the junta even as residents banged pots and pans in protest during the pro-junta demonstration.

Reports claimed clashes were also reported near Yangon central railway station&nbsp;compound as slingshots from cars were fired by the pro-military supporters.

Yangon University students took out a march carrying the red flags of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy(NLD) party.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/japan-finalising-plans-to-halt-fresh-aid-to-myanmar-says-report-366083">Myanmar </a>has witnessed protests ever since the military coup on February 1. The country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi and several NLD party leaders were arrested as the military rulers took over the country while imposing a state of emergency for one year.

Four anti-coup protesters have been killed in the crackdown as authorities have targeted demonstrations and several have been arrested. The military has reported the death of at least one police officer.

Amid the protests, Indonesia officials held "intensive" talks with the Myanmar military and representatives of the ousted government.

Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi met Myanmar's foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin for talks in Bangkok. The military has declared it will hold elections but it hasn't put a timeline.

Several countries have condemned the coup, with Britain and the United States imposing sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers.

Supporters of the military junta in Myanmar clashed with anti-military protesters in Yangon on Thursday. Watch: Reports claimed at least 1,000 supporters of the military gathered in central Yangon with some wielding knives with signs carrying "we stand with the defence services", referring to the junta even as residents banged pots and pans in protest during the pro-junta demonstration.

Supporters of the military junta in Myanmar clashed with anti-military protesters in Yangon on Thursday. Watch: Reports claimed at least 1,000 supporters of the military gathered in central Yangon with some wielding knives with signs carrying "we stand with the defence services", referring to the junta even as residents banged pots and pans in protest during the pro-junta demonstration. Reports claimed clashes were also reported near Yangon central railway station compound as slingshots from cars were fired by the pro-military supporters. Yangon University students took out a march carrying the red flags of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy(NLD) party. Myanmar has witnessed protests ever since the military coup on February 1. The country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi and several NLD party leaders were arrested as the military rulers took over the country while imposing a state of emergency for one year. Four anti-coup protesters have been killed in the crackdown as authorities have targeted demonstrations and several have been arrested. The military has reported the death of at least one police officer. Amid the protests, Indonesia officials held "intensive" talks with the Myanmar military and representatives of the ousted government. Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi met Myanmar's foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin for talks in Bangkok. The military has declared it will hold elections but it hasn't put a timeline. Several countries have condemned the coup, with Britain and the United States imposing sanctions against Myanmar's military rulers.

Pro-military supporters clash with protesters in Myanmar's Yangon

Demonstrating for the third week their determination to force the country’s military to return to its barracks, protesters in Myanmar appear to be learning lessons from a decade of protest in the Middle East and North Africa.

By the same token, Myanmar’s protesters, in stark contrast to public silence about the military’s brutal repression of the Rohingya minority in recent years, seem to want to forge a national identity that supersedes past emphasis on ethnicity and/or religion.

In doing so, they, like their counterparts in Lebanon and Iraq, reject sectarian policies that allowed elites to divide and rule and distract attention from economic and social grievances held by all segments of the population.

As they resist the military’s February 01 coup that nullified a democratic election won in November in a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) because of alleged electoral fraud, protesters confront many of the same obstacles that demonstrators in &nbsp;Thailand, Turkey, Sudan, and Algeria face.

The ability to address desperately needed reforms with buy-in from the military will shape a return to democracy and the sustainability of the transition. Taking military concerns into account reforms will have to include civilian control of the military, defining the military’s mission in national defence rather than ideological terms, and regulating the armed forces’ vast economic interests.

The Middle East and North Africa provide cautionary tales like Egypt that eight years after a coup has become a brutal dictatorship and Libya, Syria and Yemen that are wracked by war, as well as potential models, that would serve Myanmar’s democratisation well.

Tunisia, the one Arab country to have pushed political transition relatively successful, was able to do so because Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian autocrat who was overthrown in 2011, had ensured that the military had no vested interest in the country’s political system.

Mr Ben Ali decimated the military leadership, severely cut the budget of the armed forces early on in his 24-year rule and sidelined the military, relying instead on security forces and law enforcement. As a result, the military effectively stood aside when protesters staged mass anti-government demonstrations.

The positioning of Tunisia’s armed forces may not offer Myanmar immediate options, but it highlights the need for a military that understands itself as a national institution rather than a party with vested political and economic interests.

Of more immediate importance to Myanmar is the fact that Mr Ben Ali as well as the leaders of Egypt, Libya and Yemen were toppled by an informal alliance between civil society and either faction of the military or the armed forces as a whole. They shared a short-term interest in removing the incumbent from power.

The same is true for Southeast Asia’s people power revolts in the Philippines and Indonesia in the 1980s and 1990s. In Myanmar, it was the military that opted for a degree of political liberalization following decades of intermittent mass protest.

It took Tunisian civil society’s engagement with the security forces as well as other segments of society and the existing power structure to nurture the democratization process. By contrast, the process was derailed in much of the Middle East by a post-revolt breakdown of the alliance, often aggravated and/or manipulated by external forces.

The Tunisian approach enabled all parties to manage the inevitable divergence of interests once Mr Ben Ali had been toppled, juxtaposing civil society’s quest for wholesale political and economic reform with the security forces’ insistence on the preservation of their economic and political interests and rescue of as much of the ancien regime as possible.

In Tunisia, like in other post-revolt countries, the divergence kicked in the moment the incumbent was removed. The Middle East and Southeast Asia’s experience demonstrates that the pitfalls are embedded in the compromises made to establish a transitionary government.

Inevitably, the military and/or security forces either constitute the transition government or are a powerful part of it. Their track record is one of taking liberties in protecting their interests.

Like in Myanmar this month, the military crosses red lines when the transition endangers those prerogatives. Learning how to counter the pitfalls of perilous but inevitable cooperation with at least segments of the military and/or security forces is a work in progress.

Turkey provides a different set of lessons. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s turn towards repression and authoritarianism in the wake of a failed military coup in 2016 suggests that civilian control does not offer a magic wand even if the takeover was foiled by protesters who set aside their social, ideological, and political differences.

If this is a cautionary tale, Turkey also offers solutions to at least one of the issues: the military’s economic interests. Turkey’s military, even before the imposition of civilian control, put its economic house in order by creating a conglomerate, one of the country’s largest, that is owned by the military pension fund and subject to regulation, civic and commercial law, and markets like any other privately held institution.

As civil obedience in Myanmar persists, protesters have certain advantages.

Rather than being on their own, the protesters benefit from being at the forefront of a wave of defiance and dissent that for the past decade and no doubt the next is fueled by a breakdown in confidence in political systems and leadership.

With the pandemic, the widespread mismanagement of public health responses, the global economic downturn and dislocation, and technological change, the coming decade promises to be perhaps even more turbulent.

In addition, Myanmar protesters’ may be beneficiaries of the electoral defeat of US President Donald Trump and the rise of Joe Biden, who has pledged to make human rights a central plank of his foreign policy.

Granted, US adherence in its foreign policy to its human rights values has at the best of times been checkered.

Nonetheless, Mr Biden’s approach, even if imperfectly applied, erases the permissive environment that autocrats enjoyed during the Trump years.

There is, moreover, a reason to believe that Mr Biden will be truer to his pledge because it is key to US efforts to repair the credibility and reputational damage suffered by the United States because of Mr Trump’s America First policy; disdain for multilateralism, international institutions, and international law; empathy with autocrats; and disregard for human rights.

Playing into Mr Biden’s emphasis on human rights is the fact that the protests, like in Lebanon and Iraq, appear to have broken down ethnic and religious fault lines.

Yangon’s usually hidden Rohingya community has openly joined the protests four years after detained democratically elected Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi stood by and later defended the military’s ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, more than 700,00 of which fled to Bangladesh.

Burmese who in recent years used Twitter to attack and threaten Rohingya activists living in exile have apologized since the February coup, recognizing that military rule poses a threat to all.

Political transition, like reconciliation, is a long-drawn-out process that can take up to half a century to play out. It is a process of two steps forward and steps backwards as Myanmar is discovering now. &nbsp;

The Myanmar military understands that tacit Russian and Chinese support may not be as much of a lifesaver as it was in the past. That may explain the military’s reluctance to crush the protests even if the likelihood of an imminent crackdown is high.

If the experience of Egypt is anything to go by, the military can brutally suppress and keep a lid on unrest for a period of time. It may preserve the military’s interests for a while, but it cannot provide sustainable economic solutions or ensure stability.

In contrast to Egypt, protesters in Myanmar have the advantage that they are demanding recognition of a current election outcome that could put a new government in a position to redefine the role of the military and regulate its economic interests.

Based on the experience of Egypt, one core bone that the government would likely have to throw the military is immunity against prosecution for past crimes. That may be a bitter pill to swallow and violate principles of truth and accountability as an important pillar of transition.

As Egypt demonstrates, it offers no guarantee of keeping the military in its barracks, but it may be the carrot that helps entice the military to make the concessions needed for a democratic transition.

For now, Myanmar cries out for non-partisan independents capable of helping the military and the protesters to back away from a zero-sum game that seems destined to result in bloodshed.

That is likely to prove a gargantuan task as Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi spearheads efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mediate a way back from the brink.

In the words of former International Crisis Group Myanmar analyst Morten B. Pedersen “when a military obsessed with order and stability…confronts an essentially leaderless popular movement driven by youthful anger and shattered hopes, compromise is perhaps the hardest thing of all.”

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Demonstrating for the third week their determination to force the country’s military to return to its barracks, protesters in Myanmar appear to be learning lessons from a decade of protest in the Middle East and North Africa.

Demonstrating for the third week their determination to force the country’s military to return to its barracks, protesters in Myanmar appear to be learning lessons from a decade of protest in the Middle East and North Africa. By the same token, Myanmar’s protesters, in stark contrast to public silence about the military’s brutal repression of the Rohingya minority in recent years, seem to want to forge a national identity that supersedes past emphasis on ethnicity and/or religion. In doing so, they, like their counterparts in Lebanon and Iraq, reject sectarian policies that allowed elites to divide and rule and distract attention from economic and social grievances held by all segments of the population. As they resist the military’s February 01 coup that nullified a democratic election won in November in a landslide by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) because of alleged electoral fraud, protesters confront many of the same obstacles that demonstrators in Thailand, Turkey, Sudan, and Algeria face. The ability to address desperately needed reforms with buy-in from the military will shape a return to democracy and the sustainability of the transition. Taking military concerns into account reforms will have to include civilian control of the military, defining the military’s mission in national defence rather than ideological terms, and regulating the armed forces’ vast economic interests. The Middle East and North Africa provide cautionary tales like Egypt that eight years after a coup has become a brutal dictatorship and Libya, Syria and Yemen that are wracked by war, as well as potential models, that would serve Myanmar’s democratisation well. Tunisia, the one Arab country to have pushed political transition relatively successful, was able to do so because Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the Tunisian autocrat who was overthrown in 2011, had ensured that the military had no vested interest in the country’s political system. Mr Ben Ali decimated the military leadership, severely cut the budget of the armed forces early on in his 24-year rule and sidelined the military, relying instead on security forces and law enforcement. As a result, the military effectively stood aside when protesters staged mass anti-government demonstrations. The positioning of Tunisia’s armed forces may not offer Myanmar immediate options, but it highlights the need for a military that understands itself as a national institution rather than a party with vested political and economic interests. Of more immediate importance to Myanmar is the fact that Mr Ben Ali as well as the leaders of Egypt, Libya and Yemen were toppled by an informal alliance between civil society and either faction of the military or the armed forces as a whole. They shared a short-term interest in removing the incumbent from power. The same is true for Southeast Asia’s people power revolts in the Philippines and Indonesia in the 1980s and 1990s. In Myanmar, it was the military that opted for a degree of political liberalization following decades of intermittent mass protest. It took Tunisian civil society’s engagement with the security forces as well as other segments of society and the existing power structure to nurture the democratization process. By contrast, the process was derailed in much of the Middle East by a post-revolt breakdown of the alliance, often aggravated and/or manipulated by external forces. The Tunisian approach enabled all parties to manage the inevitable divergence of interests once Mr Ben Ali had been toppled, juxtaposing civil society’s quest for wholesale political and economic reform with the security forces’ insistence on the preservation of their economic and political interests and rescue of as much of the ancien regime as possible. In Tunisia, like in other post-revolt countries, the divergence kicked in the moment the incumbent was removed. The Middle East and Southeast Asia’s experience demonstrates that the pitfalls are embedded in the compromises made to establish a transitionary government. Inevitably, the military and/or security forces either constitute the transition government or are a powerful part of it. Their track record is one of taking liberties in protecting their interests. Like in Myanmar this month, the military crosses red lines when the transition endangers those prerogatives. Learning how to counter the pitfalls of perilous but inevitable cooperation with at least segments of the military and/or security forces is a work in progress. Turkey provides a different set of lessons. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s turn towards repression and authoritarianism in the wake of a failed military coup in 2016 suggests that civilian control does not offer a magic wand even if the takeover was foiled by protesters who set aside their social, ideological, and political differences. If this is a cautionary tale, Turkey also offers solutions to at least one of the issues: the military’s economic interests. Turkey’s military, even before the imposition of civilian control, put its economic house in order by creating a conglomerate, one of the country’s largest, that is owned by the military pension fund and subject to regulation, civic and commercial law, and markets like any other privately held institution. As civil obedience in Myanmar persists, protesters have certain advantages. Rather than being on their own, the protesters benefit from being at the forefront of a wave of defiance and dissent that for the past decade and no doubt the next is fueled by a breakdown in confidence in political systems and leadership. With the pandemic, the widespread mismanagement of public health responses, the global economic downturn and dislocation, and technological change, the coming decade promises to be perhaps even more turbulent. In addition, Myanmar protesters’ may be beneficiaries of the electoral defeat of US President Donald Trump and the rise of Joe Biden, who has pledged to make human rights a central plank of his foreign policy. Granted, US adherence in its foreign policy to its human rights values has at the best of times been checkered. Nonetheless, Mr Biden’s approach, even if imperfectly applied, erases the permissive environment that autocrats enjoyed during the Trump years. There is, moreover, a reason to believe that Mr Biden will be truer to his pledge because it is key to US efforts to repair the credibility and reputational damage suffered by the United States because of Mr Trump’s America First policy; disdain for multilateralism, international institutions, and international law; empathy with autocrats; and disregard for human rights. Playing into Mr Biden’s emphasis on human rights is the fact that the protests, like in Lebanon and Iraq, appear to have broken down ethnic and religious fault lines. Yangon’s usually hidden Rohingya community has openly joined the protests four years after detained democratically elected Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi stood by and later defended the military’s ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya, more than 700,00 of which fled to Bangladesh. Burmese who in recent years used Twitter to attack and threaten Rohingya activists living in exile have apologized since the February coup, recognizing that military rule poses a threat to all. Political transition, like reconciliation, is a long-drawn-out process that can take up to half a century to play out. It is a process of two steps forward and steps backwards as Myanmar is discovering now. The Myanmar military understands that tacit Russian and Chinese support may not be as much of a lifesaver as it was in the past. That may explain the military’s reluctance to crush the protests even if the likelihood of an imminent crackdown is high. If the experience of Egypt is anything to go by, the military can brutally suppress and keep a lid on unrest for a period of time. It may preserve the military’s interests for a while, but it cannot provide sustainable economic solutions or ensure stability. In contrast to Egypt, protesters in Myanmar have the advantage that they are demanding recognition of a current election outcome that could put a new government in a position to redefine the role of the military and regulate its economic interests. Based on the experience of Egypt, one core bone that the government would likely have to throw the military is immunity against prosecution for past crimes. That may be a bitter pill to swallow and violate principles of truth and accountability as an important pillar of transition. As Egypt demonstrates, it offers no guarantee of keeping the military in its barracks, but it may be the carrot that helps entice the military to make the concessions needed for a democratic transition. For now, Myanmar cries out for non-partisan independents capable of helping the military and the protesters to back away from a zero-sum game that seems destined to result in bloodshed. That is likely to prove a gargantuan task as Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi spearheads efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to mediate a way back from the brink. In the words of former International Crisis Group Myanmar analyst Morten B. Pedersen “when a military obsessed with order and stability…confronts an essentially leaderless popular movement driven by youthful anger and shattered hopes, compromise is perhaps the hardest thing of all.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion- Myanmar: Exploiting lessons learnt in the Middle East

Myanmar military continued its internet blackout for the eighth consecutive day ahead of another day of planned protests on Monday.

Watch:

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At least three protesters were killed on Saturday which marked the deadliest day of nationwide protests which has continued for over two weeks.

Protesters in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/facebook-deletes-main-page-of-myanmar-military-365128">Yangon</a>, Monywa and Myitkyina held candlelight vigils to pay tribute to the dead as the military continued its crack down against the demonstrators.

Mandalay and Yangon have become the epicentre of protests with demonstrators clashing with authorities. Myanmar's military had replaced the democratic government on February 1 in a coup as it arrested pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top leaders of her NLD party.

The protesters have been demanding a return to democracy and freedom for Suu Kyi, however, the military has continued its clampdown and declared a state of emergency for one year, although they have promised to hold elections without setting a date.

The military has accused voter fraud in the November elections which was won by Suu Kyi's NLD party.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the use of "deadly violence" against the crowd, saying: "The use of lethal force, intimidation &amp; harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable."

Canada, Britain and the United States had earlier sanctioned the Myanmar generals even as European Union foreign ministers are set to meet on Monday to discuss measures against Myanmar's military regime.

Myanmar military continued its internet blackout for the eighth consecutive day ahead of another day of planned protests on Monday. Watch: At least three protesters were killed on Saturday which marked the deadliest day of nationwide protests which has continued for over two weeks.

Myanmar military continued its internet blackout for the eighth consecutive day ahead of another day of planned protests on Monday. Watch: At least three protesters were killed on Saturday which marked the deadliest day of nationwide protests which has continued for over two weeks. Protesters in Yangon, Monywa and Myitkyina held candlelight vigils to pay tribute to the dead as the military continued its crack down against the demonstrators. Mandalay and Yangon have become the epicentre of protests with demonstrators clashing with authorities. Myanmar's military had replaced the democratic government on February 1 in a coup as it arrested pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top leaders of her NLD party. The protesters have been demanding a return to democracy and freedom for Suu Kyi, however, the military has continued its clampdown and declared a state of emergency for one year, although they have promised to hold elections without setting a date. The military has accused voter fraud in the November elections which was won by Suu Kyi's NLD party. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the use of "deadly violence" against the crowd, saying: "The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable." Canada, Britain and the United States had earlier sanctioned the Myanmar generals even as European Union foreign ministers are set to meet on Monday to discuss measures against Myanmar's military regime.

Internet blackout continues amid crack down against protesters in Myanmar

Anti-coup protesters on Monday defied military junta's warning to take to streets. Businesses around the country observed a general strike. There were protests in cities and towns across the country on Monday, from the northern hills on the border with China to the central plains, the Irrawaddy river delta and the southern panhandle.

Images posted on social media showed a police water cannon truck and numerous other vehicles closing in to break up a procession of chanting people in Naypyitaw, where the military is headquartered. As the protesters scattered, police on foot chased them, wrestling several to the ground.

"They're chasing and arresting us. We're just protesting peacefully," one woman said in video clip posted on Facebook.

The protests have been going on daily ever since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's government on February 1. The military has been unable to stop the protests.

Three people have lost lives so far. Two were shot dead in Mandalay on Saturday. Funeral of the third protester, a young woman, was carried out on Sunday. It drew hundreds of people.

"Everyone is joining this," said San San Maw, 46, at the Hledan junction in the main city of Yangon, which has become a rallying point for the protests. "We need to come out."

In a country where dates are seen as auspicious, protesters noted the significance of the date 22.2.2021, comparing it with demonstrations on Aug. 8, 1988 when a previous generation staged anti-military protests which were bloodily suppressed.

Military's response so far has been less deadly. The army also said one policeman died of injuries in the protest.

"Stop the repression"

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on Myanmar military to stop the "repression" immediately.

"Today, I call on the Myanmar military to stop the repression immediately. Release the prisoners. End the violence. Respect human rights, and the will of the people expressed in recent elections," Guterres told the UN Human Rights Council in a pre-recorded video message.

Guterres has been increasingly vocal about situation in Myanmar.

'RESTRAINT'

As well as local stores, international chains announced closures on Monday, including Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and delivery service Food Panda, owned by Delivery Hero. Southeast Asian company Grab stopped delivery services too but left its taxis running.

Authorities were "exercising utmost restraint", the foreign ministry said in a statement. It rebuked some countries for remarks it described as flagrant interference in Myanmar's internal affairs.

Several Western countries have condemned the coup and decried the violence against protesters.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter the United States would continue to "take firm action" against authorities violently cracking down on opponents of the coup in the Southeast Asian country that is also known as Burma.

"We stand with the people of Burma," he said.

Britain, Germany, Japan and Singapore have also condemned the violence and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said lethal force was unacceptable.

(With Reuters inputs)

Anti-coup protesters on Monday defied military junta's warning to take to streets. Businesses around the country observed a general strike. There were protests in cities and towns across the country on Monday, from the northern hills on the border with China to the central plains, the Irrawaddy river delta and the southern panhandle.

Anti-coup protesters on Monday defied military junta's warning to take to streets. Businesses around the country observed a general strike. There were protests in cities and towns across the country on Monday, from the northern hills on the border with China to the central plains, the Irrawaddy river delta and the southern panhandle. Images posted on social media showed a police water cannon truck and numerous other vehicles closing in to break up a procession of chanting people in Naypyitaw, where the military is headquartered. As the protesters scattered, police on foot chased them, wrestling several to the ground. "They're chasing and arresting us. We're just protesting peacefully," one woman said in video clip posted on Facebook. The protests have been going on daily ever since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's government on February 1. The military has been unable to stop the protests. Three people have lost lives so far. Two were shot dead in Mandalay on Saturday. Funeral of the third protester, a young woman, was carried out on Sunday. It drew hundreds of people. "Everyone is joining this," said San San Maw, 46, at the Hledan junction in the main city of Yangon, which has become a rallying point for the protests. "We need to come out." In a country where dates are seen as auspicious, protesters noted the significance of the date 22.2.2021, comparing it with demonstrations on Aug. 8, 1988 when a previous generation staged anti-military protests which were bloodily suppressed. Military's response so far has been less deadly. The army also said one policeman died of injuries in the protest. "Stop the repression" UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on Myanmar military to stop the "repression" immediately. "Today, I call on the Myanmar military to stop the repression immediately. Release the prisoners. End the violence. Respect human rights, and the will of the people expressed in recent elections," Guterres told the UN Human Rights Council in a pre-recorded video message. Guterres has been increasingly vocal about situation in Myanmar. 'RESTRAINT' As well as local stores, international chains announced closures on Monday, including Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and delivery service Food Panda, owned by Delivery Hero. Southeast Asian company Grab stopped delivery services too but left its taxis running. Authorities were "exercising utmost restraint", the foreign ministry said in a statement. It rebuked some countries for remarks it described as flagrant interference in Myanmar's internal affairs. Several Western countries have condemned the coup and decried the violence against protesters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter the United States would continue to "take firm action" against authorities violently cracking down on opponents of the coup in the Southeast Asian country that is also known as Burma. "We stand with the people of Burma," he said. Britain, Germany, Japan and Singapore have also condemned the violence and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said lethal force was unacceptable. (With Reuters inputs)

Myanmar: Protesters defy military's lethal warning to take to streets again

Huge crowds marched in Myanmar on Sunday to denounce a February 1 military coup in a show of defiance after the bloodiest episode of the campaign for democracy the previous day, when security forces fired on protesters, killing two.

The military has been unable to quell the demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes against the coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others, even with a promise of new elections and stern warnings against dissent.

In the main city of Yangon, thousands of mostly young people gathered at different sites to chant slogans and sing.

In Myitkyina in the north, people laid flowers for the dead protesters. Big crowds marched in the central towns of Monywa and Bagan, in Dawei and Myeik in the south, Myawaddy in the east and Lashio in the northeast.

Thousands lined the route of the procession to pay tribute to Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who was shot in the head two days before her 20th birthday at a protest demanding the release of Suu Kyi.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/facebook-deletes-main-page-of-myanmar-military-365128">Also read |&nbsp;Facebook deletes main page of Myanmar military</a>

The grocery store worker was kept on life support for 10 days but succumbed to her wounds on Friday, making her the first protester killed for participating in the massive civil disobedience campaign sweeping the country.

State media claimed on Sunday that an autopsy of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing's body showed the bullet was not fired by police officers. It also claimed she was "throwing stones" at security forces at the protest.

But Amnesty International said footage of the incident showed that "police recklessly targeted protesters, with no respect for their lives or safety".

A rights group said 569 people have been detained in connection with the coup.

At the tourist spot of Inle Lake, people including Buddhist monks took to a flotilla of boats holding aloft portraits of Suu Kyi and signs saying "military coup - end".

The more than two weeks of protests had been largely peaceful until Saturday, unlike previous episodes of opposition during nearly half a century of direct military rule to 2011. The violence looked unlikely to end the agitation.

The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the strikers sabotaged boats at the city`s river port and attacked police with sticks, knives and catapults. Eight policemen and several soldiers were injured.

Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) condemned the violence by security forces in Mandalay as a crime against humanity.

The army seized power after alleging fraud in November 8 elections that the NLD swept, detaining Suu Kyi and others. The electoral commission dismissed the fraud complaints.

Facebook deleted the military's main page for repeated violations of its standards "prohibiting incitement of violence and coordinating harm" and Western countries that condemned the coup decried the violence.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was "deeply concerned". France, Singapore, Britain and Germany also condemned the violence while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said lethal force was unacceptable.

The United States, Britain and others have announced limited sanctions, focussing on military leaders, but the generals have long shrugged off foreign pressure.

Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1.

(with inputs from agencies)

Huge crowds marched in Myanmar on Sunday to denounce a February 1 military coup in a show of defiance after the bloodiest episode of the campaign for democracy the previous day, when security forces fired on protesters, killing two.

Huge crowds marched in Myanmar on Sunday to denounce a February 1 military coup in a show of defiance after the bloodiest episode of the campaign for democracy the previous day, when security forces fired on protesters, killing two. The military has been unable to quell the demonstrations and a civil disobedience campaign of strikes against the coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others, even with a promise of new elections and stern warnings against dissent. In the main city of Yangon, thousands of mostly young people gathered at different sites to chant slogans and sing. In Myitkyina in the north, people laid flowers for the dead protesters. Big crowds marched in the central towns of Monywa and Bagan, in Dawei and Myeik in the south, Myawaddy in the east and Lashio in the northeast. Thousands lined the route of the procession to pay tribute to Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who was shot in the head two days before her 20th birthday at a protest demanding the release of Suu Kyi. Also read | Facebook deletes main page of Myanmar military The grocery store worker was kept on life support for 10 days but succumbed to her wounds on Friday, making her the first protester killed for participating in the massive civil disobedience campaign sweeping the country. State media claimed on Sunday that an autopsy of Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing's body showed the bullet was not fired by police officers. It also claimed she was "throwing stones" at security forces at the protest. But Amnesty International said footage of the incident showed that "police recklessly targeted protesters, with no respect for their lives or safety". A rights group said 569 people have been detained in connection with the coup. At the tourist spot of Inle Lake, people including Buddhist monks took to a flotilla of boats holding aloft portraits of Suu Kyi and signs saying "military coup - end". The more than two weeks of protests had been largely peaceful until Saturday, unlike previous episodes of opposition during nearly half a century of direct military rule to 2011. The violence looked unlikely to end the agitation. The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said the strikers sabotaged boats at the city`s river port and attacked police with sticks, knives and catapults. Eight policemen and several soldiers were injured. Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) condemned the violence by security forces in Mandalay as a crime against humanity. The army seized power after alleging fraud in November 8 elections that the NLD swept, detaining Suu Kyi and others. The electoral commission dismissed the fraud complaints. Facebook deleted the military's main page for repeated violations of its standards "prohibiting incitement of violence and coordinating harm" and Western countries that condemned the coup decried the violence. US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States was "deeply concerned". France, Singapore, Britain and Germany also condemned the violence while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said lethal force was unacceptable. The United States, Britain and others have announced limited sanctions, focussing on military leaders, but the generals have long shrugged off foreign pressure. Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1. (with inputs from agencies)

Myanmar, undeterred by worst day of violence, continues to protest and grieve

Two people have died from gunshot wounds after security forces opened fire at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay on Saturday.

According to multiple reports, about 30 others were injured. Half of the injured people were shot with live rounds.

One of the victims was a boy who was shot in the head. A second man was shot in the chest and died later.

Protesters took to the streets in several cities and towns with members of ethnic minorities, poets and transport workers among those demanding an end to military rule and the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others.

But tension escalated quickly in Mandalay where police and soldiers were confronting striking shipyard workers and other protesters. 
Some of the demonstrators fired catapults at police as they played cat and mouse through riverside streets. Police responded with tear gas and gun fire, though it was initially not clear if they were using live ammunition or rubber bullets.

A young woman protester died on Friday after being shot in the head last week as police dispersed a crowd in the capital, Naypyitaw, the first death among anti-coup demonstrators.

The army says one policeman died of injuries sustained in a protest.

The demonstrators are demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of Suu Kyi and others. They have also called for the scrapping of a 2008 constitution that has assured the army a major role in politics since nearly 50 years of direct military rule ended in 2011.

The army seized back power after alleging fraud in November 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept, detaining her and others. The electoral commission had dismissed the fraud complaints.

Earlier on Saturday, several thousand protesters gathered in the northern town of Myitkyina and confronted lines of police before dispersing.

Crowds also marched again peacefully through the ancient capital of Bagan and in Pathein in the Irrawaddy river delta, pictures on social media showed.

Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1.

(with inputs from agencies)

Two people have died from gunshot wounds after security forces opened fire at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay on Saturday. According to multiple reports, about 30 others were injured.

Two people have died from gunshot wounds after security forces opened fire at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city Mandalay on Saturday. According to multiple reports, about 30 others were injured. Half of the injured people were shot with live rounds. One of the victims was a boy who was shot in the head. A second man was shot in the chest and died later. Protesters took to the streets in several cities and towns with members of ethnic minorities, poets and transport workers among those demanding an end to military rule and the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and others. But tension escalated quickly in Mandalay where police and soldiers were confronting striking shipyard workers and other protesters. Some of the demonstrators fired catapults at police as they played cat and mouse through riverside streets. Police responded with tear gas and gun fire, though it was initially not clear if they were using live ammunition or rubber bullets. A young woman protester died on Friday after being shot in the head last week as police dispersed a crowd in the capital, Naypyitaw, the first death among anti-coup demonstrators. The army says one policeman died of injuries sustained in a protest. The demonstrators are demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of Suu Kyi and others. They have also called for the scrapping of a 2008 constitution that has assured the army a major role in politics since nearly 50 years of direct military rule ended in 2011. The army seized back power after alleging fraud in November 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept, detaining her and others. The electoral commission had dismissed the fraud complaints. Earlier on Saturday, several thousand protesters gathered in the northern town of Myitkyina and confronted lines of police before dispersing. Crowds also marched again peacefully through the ancient capital of Bagan and in Pathein in the Irrawaddy river delta, pictures on social media showed. Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1. (with inputs from agencies)

Two people killed in Myanmar anti-coup protest shooting

Security forces fired live rounds at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city after a police raid at a shipyard turned violent on Saturday, leaving at least six wounded.

"Six men with gunshot wounds arrived to our team. Two are seriously injured," a medical aide to the doctors said.

Much of the country has been in uproar since the military deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets to protest against the junta.&nbsp;

Authorities have since arrested hundreds of people. Many of these detainees are civil servants who had been boycotting work as part of a civil disobedience campaign.

On Saturday, hundreds of police gathered at Yadanarbon shipyard in Mandalay, on the Irrawaddy river.&nbsp;

When protesters started yelling at the police to leave, police opened fire with rubber bullets and slingshot balls, dispersing the alarmed protesters and leaving at least six injured.

Since the nationwide protests started two weeks ago, authorities in some cities have deployed tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets against demonstrators.

There have been isolated incidents of live rounds in the capital Naypyidaw.

A young woman protester died on Friday after being shot in the head last week as police dispersed a crowd in the capital, Naypyitaw, the first death among anti-coup demonstrators.

The army says one policeman died of injuries sustained in a protest.

On Saturday, young people in the main city of Yangon carried a wreath and laid flowers at a memorial ceremony for the woman, Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, while a similar ceremony took place in Naypyitaw.

The demonstrators are demanding the restoration of the elected government, the release of Suu Kyi and others and the scrapping of a 2008 constitution, drawn up under military supervision, that gives the army a major role in politics.

Insurgencies by ethnic minority forces seeking autonomy have simmered since Myanmar's independence from Britain in 1948, and the army has long proclaimed itself the only institution capable of preserving national unity.

Suu Kyi, 75, like the top generals, is a member of the majority Burman community.

Her government promoted a peace process with insurgent groups but she faced a storm of international criticism over the plight of the Muslim Rohingya minority after more than 700,000 fled a deadly 2017 army crackdown.

Insurgent groups that have signed a national ceasefire made clear their opposition to army rule, saying in a statement they would aim to "coordinate with local and foreign forces" and the international community to "eliminate dictatorship".

The army seized back power after alleging fraud in November 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept, detaining her and others. The electoral commission had dismissed the fraud complaints.

The protests have so far been more peaceful than the bloodily suppressed demonstrations during nearly 50 years of direct military rule up to 2011.

Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1.

(with inputs from agencies)

Security forces fired live rounds at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city after a police raid at a shipyard turned violent on Saturday, leaving at least six wounded.

Security forces fired live rounds at protesters in Myanmar's second largest city after a police raid at a shipyard turned violent on Saturday, leaving at least six wounded. "Six men with gunshot wounds arrived to our team. Two are seriously injured," a medical aide to the doctors said. Much of the country has been in uproar since the military deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators taking to the streets to protest against the junta. Authorities have since arrested hundreds of people. Many of these detainees are civil servants who had been boycotting work as part of a civil disobedience campaign. On Saturday, hundreds of police gathered at Yadanarbon shipyard in Mandalay, on the Irrawaddy river. When protesters started yelling at the police to leave, police opened fire with rubber bullets and slingshot balls, dispersing the alarmed protesters and leaving at least six injured. Since the nationwide protests started two weeks ago, authorities in some cities have deployed tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets against demonstrators. There have been isolated incidents of live rounds in the capital Naypyidaw. A young woman protester died on Friday after being shot in the head last week as police dispersed a crowd in the capital, Naypyitaw, the first death among anti-coup demonstrators. The army says one policeman died of injuries sustained in a protest. On Saturday, young people in the main city of Yangon carried a wreath and laid flowers at a memorial ceremony for the woman, Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, while a similar ceremony took place in Naypyitaw. The demonstrators are demanding the restoration of the elected government, the release of Suu Kyi and others and the scrapping of a 2008 constitution, drawn up under military supervision, that gives the army a major role in politics. Insurgencies by ethnic minority forces seeking autonomy have simmered since Myanmar's independence from Britain in 1948, and the army has long proclaimed itself the only institution capable of preserving national unity. Suu Kyi, 75, like the top generals, is a member of the majority Burman community. Her government promoted a peace process with insurgent groups but she faced a storm of international criticism over the plight of the Muslim Rohingya minority after more than 700,000 fled a deadly 2017 army crackdown. Insurgent groups that have signed a national ceasefire made clear their opposition to army rule, saying in a statement they would aim to "coordinate with local and foreign forces" and the international community to "eliminate dictatorship". The army seized back power after alleging fraud in November 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy swept, detaining her and others. The electoral commission had dismissed the fraud complaints. The protests have so far been more peaceful than the bloodily suppressed demonstrations during nearly 50 years of direct military rule up to 2011. Suu Kyi faces a charge of violating a Natural Disaster Management Law as well as illegally importing six walkie-talkie radios. Her next court appearance is on March 1. (with inputs from agencies)

Shooting at Myanmar anti-coup protest injures at least six people

The 20-year-old woman protester who was shot in the head during anti-military protests in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/britain-canada-impose-sanctions-on-myanmar-generals-amid-protests-364685">Myanmar's</a> capital Naypyidaw has died, the hospital said on Friday.

Watch:

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Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing received head injuries after being shot as the police opened fire with live bullets. Khaing was in the intensive care unit since February 9.

Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing has become a symbol of resistance for the demonstrators who have been demanding a return to democracy after the military coup on February 1 which led to the arrest of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military has imposed a state of emergency for one year in the country after declaring voter fraud in the November elections which have been dismissed by protesters.

Canada and Britain imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals even as the US condemned the coup.

The 20-year-old woman protester who was shot in the head during anti-military protests in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw has died, the hospital said on Friday. Watch: Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing received head injuries after being shot as the police opened fire with live bullets.

The 20-year-old woman protester who was shot in the head during anti-military protests in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw has died, the hospital said on Friday. Watch: Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing received head injuries after being shot as the police opened fire with live bullets. Khaing was in the intensive care unit since February 9. Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing has become a symbol of resistance for the demonstrators who have been demanding a return to democracy after the military coup on February 1 which led to the arrest of NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The military has imposed a state of emergency for one year in the country after declaring voter fraud in the November elections which have been dismissed by protesters. Canada and Britain imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals even as the US condemned the coup.

20-year-old protester shot in head in Myanmar dies in hospital

Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals, as protests broke out for the second week against the military coup in the country.

Watch:

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The Quad group consisting of India, United States, Japan and Australia in a joint statement called for return to democracy in Myanmar.

"We’ve all agreed on the need to swiftly restore the democratic system (in Myanmar)," and to strongly oppose all unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force," Japan's foreign minister said.

Canada imposed sanctions against nine Myanmar military officials accusing them of "systemic campaign of repression through coercive legislative measures and use of force".&nbsp;

Britain, Canada and the United States have already imposed sanctions against Army chief General Min Aung Hlaing. The sanctions come amid large scale protests in Yangon, Myitkyina including in &nbsp;Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw.

The demonstrators have been demanding a return to democracy and freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi who has been under detention since February 1 when the military generals threw out the democratic leaders and imposed a state of emergency for one year.

The military has accused the November elections of being hit by voter fraud which was dismissed by election officials. Several NLD party leaders including activists have been arrested post the coup even as the military said a police officer died in Mandalay after a confrontation with protesters on Sunday.

Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals, as protests broke out for the second week against the military coup in the country. Watch: The Quad group consisting of India, United States, Japan and Australia in a joint statement called for return to democracy in Myanmar.

Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Myanmar generals, as protests broke out for the second week against the military coup in the country. Watch: The Quad group consisting of India, United States, Japan and Australia in a joint statement called for return to democracy in Myanmar. "We’ve all agreed on the need to swiftly restore the democratic system (in Myanmar)," and to strongly oppose all unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force," Japan's foreign minister said. Canada imposed sanctions against nine Myanmar military officials accusing them of "systemic campaign of repression through coercive legislative measures and use of force". Britain, Canada and the United States have already imposed sanctions against Army chief General Min Aung Hlaing. The sanctions come amid large scale protests in Yangon, Myitkyina including in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw. The demonstrators have been demanding a return to democracy and freedom for Aung San Suu Kyi who has been under detention since February 1 when the military generals threw out the democratic leaders and imposed a state of emergency for one year. The military has accused the November elections of being hit by voter fraud which was dismissed by election officials. Several NLD party leaders including activists have been arrested post the coup even as the military said a police officer died in Mandalay after a confrontation with protesters on Sunday.

Britain, Canada impose sanctions on Myanmar generals amid protests

A group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) protesters rallied on Yangon's streets against the military coup and ousting of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday (February 19).

Myanmar LGBTQ protesters take to streets against military coup

Most nights since a coup returned Myanmar to military rule on Feb. 1, a spectral symbol of protest has glowed on a mildewed side of a building.

Where the next illumination will appear in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, is a mystery. But, suddenly, a projected image appears in the dark. Three fingers raised in a rebellious pose. A dove of peace. The smiling face of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose government was ousted in the army putsch.

Watch |&nbsp;

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The projections are the brainchild of a filmmaker who wishes to remain anonymous as the military hunts down those who dare to defy it.

Armed with paintbrushes, poems and protest anthems, the creative classes are providing Myanmar’s mass uprising with an imaginative verve and rebellious spirit that has caught the military generals off guard.

During daily street rallies in the country’s major cities, the atmosphere often has the feel of a cultural carnival. Graffiti artists have spray-painted messages mocking Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who staged the coup. Poets have declaimed in angry verse. A cartoonists’ union marched holding hand-drawn figures. Street dancers twirled with abandon.

On Wednesday, in the biggest single rally since street protests began in Yangon, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a central district, holding up posters and signs designed for the Instagram generation.

“If we look at the history of resistance in Myanmar, we were quite aggressive and confrontational, with this history of bloodshed,” said Ko Kyaw Nanda, a graphic designer whose protest art contrasts green pig heads (the army) with ruby red heels (Suu Kyi). “With this new approach, it can be less risky for people, and more people can join.”

Myanmar’s military, which has ruled the nation for most of the past six decades, has locked up more than 450 people since the coup, according to a group that tracks political prisoners. The new regime has drastically diminished civil liberties, and its long history of violently suppressing dissent lingers. Security forces have shot and beaten anti-coup protesters. On Wednesday evening in the city of Mandalay, soldiers swept through an area housing railway workers who were boycotting work, shooting multiple rounds. At least one person was confirmed injured.

But the weapons of dictatorship have not deterred peaceful demonstrators, who have depended on humorous memes and protest art to carry them through. “If the young people are out on the street then why can’t I be?” said Nu Nu Win, a retired civil servant who at the rally Wednesday carried a laminated sign with the face of Suu Kyi. “I want the whole nation to be out from under dictatorship.”

Online art collectives have made their designs free so that protesters can print them out for signs, stickers or T-shirts. One of the most popular pieces shows a collection of hands arranged in the three-finger salute from “The Hunger Games” films. Each hand was drawn by a different artist, a mosaic of defiance.

As she watched the protests grow, a freelance graphic designer who goes by the artistic name Kuecool decided she wanted to contribute. Although she had illustrated a book on feminism, she had not considered herself overtly political during her years of working at a public relations agency.

The overthrow of the elected government by the military, which she had grown up disliking, shocked her. She began drawing into the night.

One of her images is now used often in the protest movement: a young woman in a traditional sarong brandishing a wok and a spatula. The background is crimson, the signature hue of the National League for Democracy, which was ejected from government despite winning two landslide electoral victories.

Every night at 8 p.m., cities across Myanmar have clanged with the din of people banging pots, pans, woks and anything else that makes a ruckus. The aim is to ward off the devil, and the projection art appears at this time, too, adding visuals to the clamor of discontent.

Myanmar’s military rulers have long seen menace in the arts, imprisoning poets, actors, painters and rappers. Among the dozens of people nabbed alongside Suu Kyi in the coup’s initial pre-dawn raids were a filmmaker, two writers and a reggae singer. A graffiti artist whose protest tags have enlivened Yangon over the past two weeks said he was on the run from the police. So were two poets. On Wednesday, arrest warrants were issued for actors, directors and a singer.

Zayar Thaw was a member of Generation Wave, a hip-hop collective that challenged the former ruling junta through sly lyrics. After serving five years in prison for his activism, he joined the National League for Democracy when it contested a by-election in 2012. Zayar Thaw won a parliamentary seat in a district once thought of as a military stronghold, settled down with reams of parliamentary paperwork and thought he had left his days of artistic protest behind him.

“Hip-hop artists already have a culture of revolution, so in our generation we protested through songs,” he said. “Now all kinds of artists are involved because they don’t want to lose the value of democracy.”

The artistic ferment in Myanmar today has drawn from other regional protest movements. During their months of sustained dissent in Hong Kong, young protesters enlivened their rallies with cute cartoons and colorful walls of sticky notes that evoked the so-called Lennon Wall in Prague, where art and messages of dissent against communism proliferated. Motivated by an earlier incarnation of opposition, the Hong Kong protesters popularized the use of the yellow umbrella against water cannons and turned it into a powerful meme.

In turn, the Hong Kong democracy movement galvanized pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand, who staged months of mass rallies last year. Encouraged by the power of whimsy in Hong Kong, the Thai protesters, who have been standing up to a prime minister who led a 2014 military coup, deployed inflatable rubber duck rafts to ward off water cannons. They popularized the use of “The Hunger Games” salute, which Thailand’s former junta initially tried to ban with their state of emergency powers. (Nobody really listened.)

A couple days after the putsch in Myanmar, doctors, who launched a civil disobedience movement that has now compelled about 750,000 people to stop going to work, flashed their three fingers in protest. The salute is now the leitmotif of the Myanmar rallies, along with signs in English — all the better to attract international attention — denouncing the military takeover.

“I got inspired by how Hong Kong and Thai protesters used creativity and humor in their protests,” said Kyaw Nanda, the graphic designer.

The crosscurrents of protest are flowing both ways. Last week, a Thai youth group adopted the pots and pans campaign from Myanmar for a protest in Bangkok.

“In the region, there is a fight for democracy, human rights and justice,” said Aye Ko, a painter in Myanmar whose art has long expressed political yearnings. “The movement is beyond one nation’s issue. We have all joined together in the resistance against oppression.”

 
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Most nights since a coup returned Myanmar to military rule on Feb. 1, a spectral symbol of protest has glowed on a mildewed side of a building. Where the next illumination will appear in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, is a mystery.

Most nights since a coup returned Myanmar to military rule on Feb. 1, a spectral symbol of protest has glowed on a mildewed side of a building. Where the next illumination will appear in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, is a mystery. But, suddenly, a projected image appears in the dark. Three fingers raised in a rebellious pose. A dove of peace. The smiling face of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose government was ousted in the army putsch. Watch | The projections are the brainchild of a filmmaker who wishes to remain anonymous as the military hunts down those who dare to defy it. Armed with paintbrushes, poems and protest anthems, the creative classes are providing Myanmar’s mass uprising with an imaginative verve and rebellious spirit that has caught the military generals off guard. During daily street rallies in the country’s major cities, the atmosphere often has the feel of a cultural carnival. Graffiti artists have spray-painted messages mocking Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who staged the coup. Poets have declaimed in angry verse. A cartoonists’ union marched holding hand-drawn figures. Street dancers twirled with abandon. On Wednesday, in the biggest single rally since street protests began in Yangon, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in a central district, holding up posters and signs designed for the Instagram generation. “If we look at the history of resistance in Myanmar, we were quite aggressive and confrontational, with this history of bloodshed,” said Ko Kyaw Nanda, a graphic designer whose protest art contrasts green pig heads (the army) with ruby red heels (Suu Kyi). “With this new approach, it can be less risky for people, and more people can join.” Myanmar’s military, which has ruled the nation for most of the past six decades, has locked up more than 450 people since the coup, according to a group that tracks political prisoners. The new regime has drastically diminished civil liberties, and its long history of violently suppressing dissent lingers. Security forces have shot and beaten anti-coup protesters. On Wednesday evening in the city of Mandalay, soldiers swept through an area housing railway workers who were boycotting work, shooting multiple rounds. At least one person was confirmed injured. But the weapons of dictatorship have not deterred peaceful demonstrators, who have depended on humorous memes and protest art to carry them through. “If the young people are out on the street then why can’t I be?” said Nu Nu Win, a retired civil servant who at the rally Wednesday carried a laminated sign with the face of Suu Kyi. “I want the whole nation to be out from under dictatorship.” Online art collectives have made their designs free so that protesters can print them out for signs, stickers or T-shirts. One of the most popular pieces shows a collection of hands arranged in the three-finger salute from “The Hunger Games” films. Each hand was drawn by a different artist, a mosaic of defiance. As she watched the protests grow, a freelance graphic designer who goes by the artistic name Kuecool decided she wanted to contribute. Although she had illustrated a book on feminism, she had not considered herself overtly political during her years of working at a public relations agency. The overthrow of the elected government by the military, which she had grown up disliking, shocked her. She began drawing into the night. One of her images is now used often in the protest movement: a young woman in a traditional sarong brandishing a wok and a spatula. The background is crimson, the signature hue of the National League for Democracy, which was ejected from government despite winning two landslide electoral victories. Every night at 8 p.m., cities across Myanmar have clanged with the din of people banging pots, pans, woks and anything else that makes a ruckus. The aim is to ward off the devil, and the projection art appears at this time, too, adding visuals to the clamor of discontent. Myanmar’s military rulers have long seen menace in the arts, imprisoning poets, actors, painters and rappers. Among the dozens of people nabbed alongside Suu Kyi in the coup’s initial pre-dawn raids were a filmmaker, two writers and a reggae singer. A graffiti artist whose protest tags have enlivened Yangon over the past two weeks said he was on the run from the police. So were two poets. On Wednesday, arrest warrants were issued for actors, directors and a singer. Zayar Thaw was a member of Generation Wave, a hip-hop collective that challenged the former ruling junta through sly lyrics. After serving five years in prison for his activism, he joined the National League for Democracy when it contested a by-election in 2012. Zayar Thaw won a parliamentary seat in a district once thought of as a military stronghold, settled down with reams of parliamentary paperwork and thought he had left his days of artistic protest behind him. “Hip-hop artists already have a culture of revolution, so in our generation we protested through songs,” he said. “Now all kinds of artists are involved because they don’t want to lose the value of democracy.” The artistic ferment in Myanmar today has drawn from other regional protest movements. During their months of sustained dissent in Hong Kong, young protesters enlivened their rallies with cute cartoons and colorful walls of sticky notes that evoked the so-called Lennon Wall in Prague, where art and messages of dissent against communism proliferated. Motivated by an earlier incarnation of opposition, the Hong Kong protesters popularized the use of the yellow umbrella against water cannons and turned it into a powerful meme. In turn, the Hong Kong democracy movement galvanized pro-democracy demonstrators in Thailand, who staged months of mass rallies last year. Encouraged by the power of whimsy in Hong Kong, the Thai protesters, who have been standing up to a prime minister who led a 2014 military coup, deployed inflatable rubber duck rafts to ward off water cannons. They popularized the use of “The Hunger Games” salute, which Thailand’s former junta initially tried to ban with their state of emergency powers. (Nobody really listened.) A couple days after the putsch in Myanmar, doctors, who launched a civil disobedience movement that has now compelled about 750,000 people to stop going to work, flashed their three fingers in protest. The salute is now the leitmotif of the Myanmar rallies, along with signs in English — all the better to attract international attention — denouncing the military takeover. “I got inspired by how Hong Kong and Thai protesters used creativity and humor in their protests,” said Kyaw Nanda, the graphic designer. The crosscurrents of protest are flowing both ways. Last week, a Thai youth group adopted the pots and pans campaign from Myanmar for a protest in Bangkok. “In the region, there is a fight for democracy, human rights and justice,” said Aye Ko, a painter in Myanmar whose art has long expressed political yearnings. “The movement is beyond one nation’s issue. We have all joined together in the resistance against oppression.”

Paint, poems and protest anthems: Myanmar's coup inspires the art of defiance

Demonstrators hold posters of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during the ongoing protest against the military coup.

Myanmar: Protests show no signs of letting up

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-monks-march-seek-end-to-military-rule-364052">Myanmar</a> experienced another night of internet blackout as the net continued to be shut for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as protests continued against the military junta's coup.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/myanmar-77th-battalion-soldiers-spotted-on-roads-363903/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Opponents of Myanmar's military coup called for big protests on Wednesday to show that the army's claim of widespread public support amid charges against leader<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-cops-file-new-charge-against-suu-kyi-to-extend-detention-indefinitely-364061"> Aung San Suu Kyi</a> who has been detained since February 1 when the military took control of the country in an early morning coup.

Suu Kyi faces charge of violating the Natural Disaster Management Law as well as charges of illegally importing six walkie talkie radios. Her case was held by video conference on Tuesday, her next hearing was set for March 1.

"Let’s gather in millions to take down the dictators," wrote activist Khin Sandar on Facebook.

Kyi Toe, a senior member of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party who has not yet been arrested, said "let's march en masse. Let's show our force against the coup government that has destroyed the future of youth, the future of our country."

The Army's takeover has drawn strong Western criticism with renewed anger from the United States and the UK over additional charge for Suu Kyi. Although China has dismissed accusations it supported the coup.

Hundreds of people have been rounded up by the army since the coup many of them in night-time raids. Those arrested include several top NLD's senior leadership.

Reports say at least 450 people have been arrested since the coup earlier this month. A third night of internet blackout meant no news emerged of any arrests early on Wednesday.

The army had alleging voter fraud in the November 8 election which was rejected by the electoral&nbsp; commission. The military has declared a state of emergency for one year after taking over power.

"Our objective is to hold an election and hand power to the winning party," Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the ruling council, told the junta's first news conference since overthrowing Suu Kyi's government.&nbsp;

General Tun gave no time frame but said the army will not be in power for long.

The last stretch of army rule lasted nearly half a century before democratic reforms in 2011.

Myanmar experienced another night of internet blackout as the net continued to be shut for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as protests continued against the military junta's coup.

Myanmar experienced another night of internet blackout as the net continued to be shut for the third consecutive day on Wednesday as protests continued against the military junta's coup. Watch: Opponents of Myanmar's military coup called for big protests on Wednesday to show that the army's claim of widespread public support amid charges against leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been detained since February 1 when the military took control of the country in an early morning coup. Suu Kyi faces charge of violating the Natural Disaster Management Law as well as charges of illegally importing six walkie talkie radios. Her case was held by video conference on Tuesday, her next hearing was set for March 1. "Let’s gather in millions to take down the dictators," wrote activist Khin Sandar on Facebook. Kyi Toe, a senior member of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party who has not yet been arrested, said "let's march en masse. Let's show our force against the coup government that has destroyed the future of youth, the future of our country." The Army's takeover has drawn strong Western criticism with renewed anger from the United States and the UK over additional charge for Suu Kyi. Although China has dismissed accusations it supported the coup. Hundreds of people have been rounded up by the army since the coup many of them in night-time raids. Those arrested include several top NLD's senior leadership. Reports say at least 450 people have been arrested since the coup earlier this month. A third night of internet blackout meant no news emerged of any arrests early on Wednesday. The army had alleging voter fraud in the November 8 election which was rejected by the electoral commission. The military has declared a state of emergency for one year after taking over power. "Our objective is to hold an election and hand power to the winning party," Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun, spokesman for the ruling council, told the junta's first news conference since overthrowing Suu Kyi's government. General Tun gave no time frame but said the army will not be in power for long. The last stretch of army rule lasted nearly half a century before democratic reforms in 2011.

Myanmar military blocks internet for third consecutive night amid protests

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