Myanmar activists hold 'blue shirt' protests; report says junta chief to attend summit

Myanmaranti-coup activists launched protests on Wednesday, calling for the release of detained prisoners, asNikkeiAsiareported thatjuntachief GeneralMinAungHlaingwouldattenda regional summit to discuss the crisis in the country.

SpokesmanZawMinTun said themilitarycommander wouldattendtheleaders'meetingof the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday, the online service of the Japanese news magazine reported.

Reuters could not reach thespokesmanfor confirmation.

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The SoutheastAsian country has been in crisis since themilitaryseized power fromAungSan Suu Kyi's elected government on February 1, with almost daily protests against the coup despite a lethal crackdown by thejuntain which hundreds of people have been killed.

ASEANhas been trying to guide fellow memberMyanmarout of the bloody turmoil triggered by the coup, but the 10-nation group's principles of consensus and non-interference have restricted its ability to overcome members' divergent views on how to respond to the army's killing of hundreds of civilians.

Myanmar'smilitaryhas shown little willingness to engage with its neighbours and no sign of wanting to talk to members of the government it ousted, accusing some of them of treason, which is punishable by death.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), an activist group,says738 people have been killed by security forces since the coup and 3,300 people are currently in detention, including 20 who have been sentenced to death.

On Wednesday, people shared photos on social media wearing blue shirts and holding up a hand with the name of an arrested person written on it.

The shirts are a tribute to pro-democracy activist Win Tin who was imprisoned by themilitaryfor 19 years and died on April 21, 2014. After his release, he pledged to wear a blue shirt until all political prisoners were freed.

"Please raise your voice and demand the release of all the people who are being unfairly detained under thejuntagovernment," protestleaderEi Thinzar Maungsaid on Facebook.

Thejuntahas released thousands of people from jail since the coup but relatively few have been linked to the protests.

Meanwhile,military-backed television broadcaster MWD reported on Tuesday that the home affairsministry had declared a National Unity Government (NUG) formed by opponents of thejuntaas unlawful.

Last week, pro-democracy politicians, including ousted members of parliament, announced the formation of NUG that nominally includes Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the coup, as well asleaders of the protests and ethnicminorities.

The NUGsaysit is the legitimate authority inMyanmarand has requested international recognition and an invitation to the Jakartameeting.

'BARBARICJUNTA'

A grouping ofASEANlawmakers also said the NUG should be invited.

"ASEANcannot adequately discuss the situation inMyanmarwithout hearing from and speaking to the National Unity Government,"ASEANParliamentarians for Human Rights said in a statement.

On the invitation to Senior GeneralMinAungHlaing, it said: "ASEANmust make it abundantly clear that he is not there as a representative of theMyanmarpeople, who totally reject his barbaricjunta."

Human Rights Watch said the 10-member bloc should immediately withdraw the invitation to thejunta'sleader.

"MinAungHlaing, who faces international sanctions for his role inmilitaryatrocities and the brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, should not be welcomed at an intergovernmental gathering to address a crisis he created," said Brad Adams,Asiadirector at Human Rights Watch.