(Yangon) Three days after Aung San Suu Kyi’s uprising against the civilian government, Burmese generals on Thursday ordered Internet providers to block access to Facebook, a key communications tool in Burma.
The military on Monday ended the country’s tumultuous democratic transition, declared a state of emergency for a year and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and other officials from his party, the National League for Democracy (LND).
The 75-year-old former leader, who has been in solitary confinement ever since, has been charged with violating a vague trade rule.
Several hundred Army supporters gathered in the capital, Naipaul, on Thursday. “We no longer want to sell national traitors abroad”, “Tatmada (armed forces) love the people”, one can read on the signs.
Not far from there, 70 LND aides signed a “commitment to serve the people” and held a symbolic parliamentary meeting to condemn the takeover of parliament.
On the streets, signs of resistance multiplied against Putch, who was strongly condemned by the UN and many Western capitals.
A small rally was held in Mandalay (center) where demonstrators took to the signs: “People’s protest against the military coup!” Local media reported that four people had been arrested. At this stage, the AFP could not confirm the arrests with authorities.
The day before, in Yangon, residents were honking their horns and pounding on pots and pans, with some chanting: “Long live Mother Suu Kyi! “Kai.
Lawyers wore red ribbons, NLD colors, and saluted three fingers as a sign of resistance adopted by Democrats in Hong Kong or Thailand. Health professionals also took part in the protest.
Groups calling for “civil disobedience” have sprung up on Facebook, the gateway to the Internet for the vast majority of the population. “We have digital energy […] To oppose the junta, ”said activist Tinjar Shunli Yi.
Facebook said it had disrupted its services and asked authorities to “restore the connection”.
The Norwegian company Telnor, one of the country’s leading telecommunications providers, has confirmed that authorities have issued orders to “temporarily block” the venue. But “we do not believe this measure is in line with international law”.
The military has issued a warning against any publication or speech that promotes riots or instability.
Negotiations in the Security Council
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has promised to “do everything possible to mobilize all key players and the international community to bring enough pressure on Burma to ensure that the uprising has failed.”
The Security Council met urgently on Tuesday without reaching an agreement. Negotiations are still ongoing, according to the diplomat, on the anonymous situation.
To receive, a text requires Beijing’s support, which vetoes it as a permanent member of the Security Council.
However, China has been a major supporter of Burma at the United Nations, where it has blocked any initiative during the Rohingya crisis.
The United States and the European Union, for their part, are planning new sanctions on the country. London on Thursday condemned the “arrest and indictment” of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Personal ambition
Burmese army chief Min Aung Hling has now concentrated his powers, citing massive scams that the LND won heavily in the November legislative elections.
In fact, despite the generals having a very favorable constitution, Aung San Suu Kyi feared that their influence would wane after the victory, analysts say.
They said Min Aung Hling, an international outcast since the military abused the Rohingya, had ousted the leader from personal political ambition as he neared retirement.
The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate was charged with violating Burmese import and export law, the NLD said, after authorities found unregistered walkie-talkies in her home.
An equally vague allegation has been leveled against former President Win Mint, who is being prosecuted for violating the country’s disaster management law by failing to comply with coronavirus measures.
Sookie, the daughter of the assassinated freedom fighter, has been adored in the country since she led the anti-democratic movement against the junta in 1988 and spent 15 years under house arrest. On the other hand, his image internationally was badly damaged by the many voices condemning his inaction in the Rohingya crisis.
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