YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Thousands rallied on Sunday against military takeover of Myanmar’s largest city and demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government was overthrown by the government. army that also imposed an internet blackout.
Crowds of protests have grown bigger and bolder since Monday’s coup.
At least 2,000 union and student activists and members of the public chanted “Long live Mother Suu” and “Down with the military dictatorship” at a major intersection near Yangon University. They walked down a main road, snoring traffic. The drivers blew their horns in support.
Police with riot gear blocked the main entrance to the university. Two water cannon trucks were parked nearby.
Protesters held banners calling for the release of Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who were arrested at home and charged with minor crimes, considered by many to be suppliers of legal badges for their arrest.
On Saturday, new military authorities cut off most Internet access, making Twitter and Instagram inaccessible. Facebook had already been blocked earlier in the week, though not quite effectively.
The U.S. embassy called on the military to relinquish power and restore democratically elected government, release detainees, lift all telecommunications restrictions, and refrain from violence.
“We support the right of the people of Myanmar to protest to support the democratically elected government and their right to free access to information,” he said in a tweet.
The blockade of communication is a strong reminder of the progress Myanmar is in danger of losing after Monday’s coup once again plunged the nation into direct military rule after a nearly decade-long move toward a greater one. openness and democracy. During Myanmar’s previous five decades of military rule, the country was isolated internationally and communication with the outside world was strictly controlled.
Suu Kyi’s five years as leader since 2015 had been Myanmar’s most democratic period despite the military retaining broad powers, continued use of the repressive laws of the colonial era, and the persecution of minority Rohingya Muslims.
Sunday’s rally came a day after about 1,000 people – factory workers and prominent students among them – marched on Yangon. They were met by more than 100 riot police.
No violence was reported. Demonstrations of similar size took place in at least two more areas of Yangon, as well as in Mandalay, the second largest city. At Yangon City Hall, protesters presented flowers to police.
About 300 lawmakers elected from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party were supposed to have taken their seats last Monday at a new parliamentary session after the November election, when the military announced it would take power for one year.
The army accused Suu Kyi and her party of acting on their allegations that the last election was marred by fraud, although the election commission said it had found no evidence to support the allegations.
Lawmakers met Friday at an online meeting to declare themselves the sole legitimate representatives of the people and called for international recognition as the country’s government.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has vowed that the United Nations will do everything possible to unite the international community and create the conditions for the military coup to be reversed in Myanmar.