Myanmar's military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, made his first public address, trying to project himself as more a statesman and less a dictator.
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YANGON: Myanmar's junta leader on Monday (Feb 8) called on the public to prioritise facts and not feelings, and said an election would be held and power handed to the winning party, as anti-coup protests took place nationwide.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in his first address since a coup a week ago, said the junta was different to previous military governments. Suitable ministers were selected, he said, adding that foreign policy would remain unchanged and countries would be encouraged to invest in Myanmar.
He reiterated there were irregularities in last year's election that were ignored and said no organisation was above the law. He made no mention of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung San Suu Kyi, along with dozens of other members of her National League of Democracy party, were detained by the military last week, ending a decade of partial civilian rule and triggering international condemnation.
She faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in police detention for investigation until Feb 15. Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her.
The military has already tried to justify their takeover on the grounds of election fraud - rejected by the election committee - and had promised a new poll.
Min Aung Hlaing reiterated that position in his address on Monday, saying the junta would form a "true and disciplined democracy" different to previous eras of military rule.
The election committee must be reformed, he said. He accused it of using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to prevent fair campaigning.
"We will have a multiparty election and we will hand the power to the one who wins in that election, according to the rules of democracy," he said.
He gave no time frame but the junta has said a state of emergency will last one year.
Some government workers have joined doctors and teachers in rallying to the call for civil disobedience and strikes.
"We request government staff from all departments not to attend work from Monday," said activist Min Ko Naing, a veteran of the 1988 demonstrations that brought Suu Kyi to prominence.
Martial law was declared in parts of Mandalay, the country's second largest city, on Monday after hundreds of thousands rallied across the country against the coup and the military issued a stern warning against further protests.
The orders cover seven townships in Mandalay, banning people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and a curfew will run from 8pm until 4am, the general administration department said in a statement.
A similar declaration has been made in a township in Ayeyarwaddy further south and announcements concerning other localities are expected to trickle out tonight.
"This order is applied until further notice," one Mandalay township statement said.
"Some people ... are behaving in a worrying way that can harm the safety of public and law enforcement. Such behaviours can affect stability, safety of people, law enforcement, and peaceful existence of villages and could create riots, that's why this order bans gathering, speaking in public, protest by using vehicles, rallies," the statement said.
YANGON: Myanmar's junta leader on Monday (Feb 8) called on the public to prioritise facts and not feelings, and said an election would be held and power handed to the winning party, as anti-coup protests took place nationwide.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in his first address since a coup a week ago, said the junta was different to previous military governments. Suitable ministers were selected, he said, adding that foreign policy would remain unchanged and countries would be encouraged to invest in Myanmar.
He reiterated there were irregularities in last year's election that were ignored and said no organisation was above the law. He made no mention of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Aung San Suu Kyi, along with dozens of other members of her National League of Democracy party, were detained by the military last week, ending a decade of partial civilian rule and triggering international condemnation.
She faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in police detention for investigation until Feb 15. Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her.
Martial law was declared in parts of Mandalay, the country's second largest city, on Monday after hundreds of thousands rallied across the country against the coup and the military issued a stern warning against further protests.
The orders cover seven townships in Mandalay, banning people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and a curfew will run from 8pm until 4am, the general administration department said in a statement.
A similar declaration has been made in a township in Ayeyarwaddy further south and announcements concerning other localities are expected to trickle out tonight.
"This order is applied until further notice," one Mandalay township statement said.
"Some people ... are behaving in a worrying way that can harm the safety of public and law enforcement. Such behaviours can affect stability, safety of people, law enforcement, and peaceful existence of villages and could create riots, that's why this order bans gathering, speaking in public, protest by using vehicles, rallies," the statement said.
YANGON: Martial law was declared in parts of Myanmar's second-largest city Mandalay on Monday (Feb 8), after hundreds of thousands rallied across the country against the coup and the military issued a stern warning against further protests.
The orders cover seven townships in Mandalay, banning people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and a curfew will run from 8pm until 4am, the general administration department said in a statement.
A similar declaration has been made in a township in Ayeyarwaddy further south and announcements concerning other localities are expected to trickle out tonight.
"This order is applied until further notice," one Mandalay township statement said.
"Some people ... are behaving in a worrying way that can harm the safety of public and law enforcement. Such behaviours can affect stability, safety of people, law enforcement, and peaceful existence of villages and could create riots, that's why this order bans gathering, speaking in public, protest by using vehicles, rallies," the statement said.
Buddhist monks flash a three-fingered salute of defiance in Mandalay, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (AP Photo)
The junta has so far refrained from using deadly force against the demonstrations sweeping most of the country, but with pressure building riot police fired water cannon in an attempt to disperse thousands gathered in Naypyidaw.
The military last week detained Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party, ending a decade of partial civilian rule and triggering international condemnation.
In the face of an increasingly bold wave of defiance, state broadcaster MRTV warned that opposition to the junta was unlawful and signalled a potential crackdown.
"Action must be taken according to the law with effective steps against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law," said a statement read by an announcer on the channel.
Protesters who are marching and riding motorbikes fill a road in Mandalay, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (AP Photo)
Tens of thousands of people overcame a nationwide internet blockade to rally over the weekend in the first major outpourings of opposition to the coup.
The movement built on Monday, with protests across the country and the start of a nationwide strike.
In Yangon, the nation's commercial capital, crowds spilled onto the city's main roads, immobilising traffic and dwarfing the previous day's rally.
"Down with military dictatorship" and "release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and arrested people", protesters chanted, flashing the three-finger salute that has come to symbolise their movement as car horns were honked in support.
Calls for a nationwide strike gathered momentum over the weekend, with textile workers, civil servants and railway employees walking out of work in the commercial hub.
"This is a work day, but we aren't going to work even if our salary will be cut," one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker Hnin Thazin, told AFP.
Construction worker Chit Min, 18, joined the Yangon rally, saying his loyalty to Suu Kyi outweighed concerns about his financial situation.
"I am jobless now for a week because of the military coup, and I am worried for my survival," he told AFP.
Similarly large crowds marched in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city, many clutching photos of Suu Kyi and waving the red flags of her party.
Police attempted to disperse thousands of people gathered on a highway in Naypyidaw, where the deposed leader is believed to be detained.
Water cannon was fired into the crowd, injuring at least two demonstrators, according to a photographer on the scene.
Huge rallies were also reported across much of the country, from Muse on the Chinese border to the southern cities of Dawei and Hpa-an.
Protesters started to disperse in the early evening.
A protester holds a monk's bowl upside down as a symbol of boycott during the march around Mandalay, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (AP Photo)
Myanmar's generals detained Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, and other top NLD leaders in pre-dawn raids last Monday, justifying the coup by claiming fraud in last November's elections, which the party won in a landslide.
The junta proclaimed a one-year state of emergency, promising to hold fresh elections after that without offering any precise timeframe.
US President Joe Biden has led global calls for the generals to relinquish power.
Pope Francis on Monday called for the prompt release of imprisoned political leaders.
"The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was brusquely interrupted by last week's coup d'etat," he told a gathering of diplomats.
"This has led to the imprisonment of different political leaders, who I hope will be promptly released as a sign of encouragement for a sincere dialogue."
South East Asian lawmakers have also urged Myanmar's military to respect the people's rights to protest.
"As peaceful demonstrations grow, the risk of violence is real. We all know what the Myanmar army is capable of: mass atrocities, killing of civilians, enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary arrests, among others," Tom Villarin from ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights said.
Protesters holding an image with an X mark on the face of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing face rows of riot police in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Other bold displays of defiance inside Myanmar have included a nightly clamour of people banging pots and pans -- a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil spirits.
Myanmar's military ruled the country for decades before allowing civilian rule a decade ago.
Aung San Suu Kyi spent large chunks of her life under house arrest for her opposition to the previous dictatorship, winning the Nobel peace prize for her efforts.
Kyaw Zin Tun, an engineer, said Monday while protesting in Yangon he remembered the fear he felt growing up under junta rule in the 1990s.
"In the last five years under the democratic government, our fears were removed. But now fear is back again with us, therefore, we have to throw out this military junta for the future of all of us," the 29-year-old told AFP.
YANGON: Myanmar's generals issued a stern warning against further protests on Monday (Feb 8) as a mass uprising against their coup gathered pace, with hundreds of thousands on the streets demanding the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The junta has so far refrained from using deadly force to quell the demonstrations sweeping most of the country, but with pressure building, riot police fired water cannon in an attempt to disperse thousands gathered on a highway in the capital Naypyidaw.
The military last week detained Aung San Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, ending a decade of civilian rule and triggering widespread international condemnation.
In the face of an increasingly bold wave of defiance rippling across the country, state broadcaster MRTV warned that opposition to the military takeover was unlawful and signalled a potential crackdown.
"Action must be taken according to the law with effective steps against offences which disturb, prevent and destroy the state's stability, public safety and the rule of law," said a statement read by an announcer on the channel.
Tens of thousands of people rallied over the weekend in the first major outpourings of opposition, and the movement built on Monday with bigger protests in key locations across the country, as well as the start of a nationwide strike.
In Yangon, the nation's commercial capital, massive throngs spilt onto the city's main roads, immobilising traffic across the city and dwarfing the previous day's crowds.
"Down with military dictatorship" and "release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and arrested people", the protesters chanted, flashing the three-finger salute that has come to symbolise their movement as car horns were honked in support.
Calls for a nationwide strike had gathered momentum over the weekend, with textile workers, civil servants and railway employees walking off the job in the commercial hub.
"This is a work day, but we aren't going to work even if our salary will be cut," one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker Hnin Thazin, told AFP.
Construction worker Chit Min, 18, joined the Yangon rally saying his loyalty to Aung San Suu Kyi outweighed immediate concerns about his financial situation.
"I am jobless now for a week because of the military coup, and I am worried for my survival," he told AFP.
Similarly large crowds marched in Mandalay, the second-largest city and former seat of the country's pre-colonial monarchy, many clutching photos of Aung San Suu Kyi and waving the red flags of her NLD party.
Police attempted to disperse thousands of people gathered on a highway in Naypyidaw, where Aung San Suu Kyi is believed to be detained.
Water cannon was fired into the crowd, injuring at least two demonstrators, according to a photographer on the scene.
Huge rallies were also reported across much of the country, from Muse on the Chinese border to the southern cities of Dawei and Hpa-an.
Other bold displays of defiance inside Myanmar have included a nightly clamour of people banging pots and pans - a practice traditionally associated with driving out evil spirits.
The surge in popular dissent on the weekend overcame a nationwide Internet blockade.
Myanmar's military had ruled the country for decades before allowing civilian rule a decade ago.
As the opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi spent large chunks of her life under house arrest during the previous dictatorship, winning the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.
Kyaw Zin Tun, an engineer, said on Monday while protesting in Yangon that he remembered the fear he felt growing up under junta rule during his childhood in the 1990s.
"In the last five years under the democratic government, our fears were removed. But now fear is back again with us, therefore, we have to throw out this military junta for the future of all of us," the 29-year-old told AFP.
YANGON: Tens of thousands of people joined a third day of nationwide demonstrations on Monday (Feb 8) against the military's removal of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi a week ago.
Calls to join protests and to back a campaign of civil disobedience have grown louder and more organised since last Monday's coup, which drew widespread international condemnation.
"This is a work day, but we aren't going to work even if our salary will be cut," one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker Hnin Thazin, said.
"We health workers are leading this campaign to urge all government staff to join the (civil disobedience movement)", Aye Misan, a nurse at a government hospital said at a protest in the biggest city of Yangon. "Our message to the public is that we aim to completely abolish this military regime and we have to fight for our destiny."
Police in the capital Naypyidaw fired brief bursts of a water cannon against a group of the thousands of protesters who had gathered on Monday, video from the scene showed.
Thousands marched also in the southeastern coastal city of Dawei and in the Kachin state capital in the far north, the massive crowds reflecting a rejection of military rule by diverse ethnic groups, even those who have been critical of Aung San Suu Kyi and accused her government of neglecting minorities.
In Yangon, a group of saffron-robed monks marched in the vanguard of protests with workers and students. They flew multicoloured Buddhist flags alongside red banners in the colour of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which won a landslide election in November.
Buddhist monks march with protesters during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AFP/STR)
"Release Our Leaders, Respect Our Votes, Reject Military Coup," said one sign. Other signs read "Save democracy" and "Say No to Dictatorship".
Weekend protests were the biggest since the "Saffron Revolution" led by Buddhist monks in 2007 that helped prompt democratic reforms that were upended by the Feb 1 coup.
Protesters holding an image with an X mark on the face of Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing face rows of riot police in Naypyidaw, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AP)
So far gatherings have been peaceful, unlike bloody crackdowns during previous widespread protests in 1988 and 2007. A convoy of military trucks was seen passing into Yangon late on Sunday, raising fears that could change.
The government lifted a day-long Internet ban at the weekend that prompted even more anger in a country fearful of returning to the isolation and even greater poverty before a transition to democracy began in 2011.
In addition to the street protests, a campaign of civil disobedience has begun, first with doctors and joined by some teachers and other government workers.
"We request government staff from all departments not to attend work from Monday," said activist Min Ko Naing, a veteran of the demonstrations in 1988 that first brought Aung San Suu Kyi to prominence.
Protesters march near the Sule Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Protesters hold signs with the image of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Thu Ye Aung)
Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for campaigning for democracy, and spent nearly 15 years under house arrest during decades of struggling to end almost half a century of army rule.
The 75-year-old has been kept incommunicado since army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power in the early hours of Feb 1 to counter what the military said was widespread election fraud. Myanmar's electoral commission has rejected those claims.
Aung San Suu Kyi faces charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and is being held in police detention for investigation until Feb 15. Her lawyer said he has not been allowed to see her.
The United Nations Security Council called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees last week and the United States is considering targeted sanctions.
Australia, which has condemned the coup, demanded the immediate release of a citizen who was working as an economic adviser to the Aung San Suu Kyi government and was arrested over the weekend.
Protesters hold large three-fingered salute cutouts while on board a vehicle in Yangon, Myanmar on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AP)
Protesters hold signs denouncing the military during a demonstration against the coup in Yangon on Feb 8, 2021. (Photo: AFP/Thu Ye Aung)
The United Nations continued to press for a restoration of democracy.
"Protesters in Myanmar continue to inspire the world as actions spread throughout the country," Thomas Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on Myanmar said on Twitter. "Myanmar is rising up to free all who have been detained and reject military dictatorship once and for all. We are with you."
