YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Myanmar’s largest city on Wednesday in one of the largest protests to date against a coup, despite warnings from a UN human rights expert that recent troop movements could indicate that the military a violent act.
In Yangon, protesters marched with signs calling for the release of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, while others feigned car trouble and strategically left their vehicles – leaving the hoods behind – to prevent security forces from easily accessing the demonstrations. Large gatherings were also held in the country’s second-largest city, Mandalay, and the capital of Naypyitaw, in spite of an order banning gatherings of five or more people.
One motorist, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was afraid of being a target, ironically explained that his car broke down “because of the suffering our people are now experiencing. We just stopped the cars here on the road to show that we don’t want the military regime. “
The demonstrations came a day after UN Rapporteur Tom Andrews expressed concern over reports of soldiers being transported to Yangon, noting that such moves had previously preceded murders, disappearances and mass arrests.
“I am terrified that given the confluence of these two developments – planned mass protests and troops converging – we are on the precipice of the military and are committing even greater crimes against the people of Myanmar,” he said in a statement from the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva.
On Wednesday evening, there were no reports of major violence in the protests.
However, residents of Mandalay reported hearing gunshots about an hour after curfew started at 8 p.m., when dozens of police officers and soldiers roamed a neighborhood housing state rail workers.
As of last week, there have been similar reports of gunfire and other aggressive actions in several cities – apparently part of attempts to intimidate people rather than injure them. Railway workers may be targeted for expressing support for the protest movement and carrying out work stoppages.
The military seized power on February 1, the day newly elected MPs would take their seats – a shocking setback for a country that had taken cautious steps towards democracy. The junta said the takeover was necessary because Suu Kyi’s government had not investigated election fraud claims her party won in a landslide; the election commission has rejected those claims.
The high turnout came a day after junta leaders declared the demonstrations were dying – and Kyi Pyar, a former lawmaker from Suu Kyi’s party, said the dismissal was only to encourage backlash.
“This upset the people,” she said. “We are not weak, we will never step back in the fight against the military regime. So we are back on the street. “
In Naypyitaw, thousands of people, including private bank employees and engineers, marched across the city’s wide boulevards, calling for the release of Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
Protesters also flooded the streets of Mandalay, where earlier in the week security forces aimed guns at protesters and attacked them with slingshots and sticks. Local media reported that several people were injured.
The marches have been organized as part of a civil disobedience movement, led by medical workers and supported by many officials.
Police filed a new charge against Suu Kyi, her lawyer said Tuesday, an action likely to keep her under house arrest and further fuel public anger. It was the second charge against Suu Kyi – the first for illegally possessing walkie-talkies, the second for an alleged violation of coronavirus restrictions – both seemingly attempts to give her detention a legal layer.
State television also announced charges against several prominent entertainers, including actors and directors, on Wednesday, all of whom have openly backed protests against the coup. They were charged under a law that punishes those who act in a way that is intended to hinder or prevent members of the military and government employees from performing their duties.
The entertainers were apparently accused of getting officials to leave their jobs – and the move reflects the junta’s concerns about the widespread and increasing involvement of officials in the protests.
On Tuesday evening, the military ordered an internet outage for the third day in a row – almost completely blocking online access from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.
While the military has not said why the Internet was blocked, there is widespread speculation that the government is installing a firewall system to monitor or block online activity.