Hundreds of Myanmar politicians defy coup
Suu Kyi’s party members seek global recognition as country’s government
YANGON, MYANMAR — Hundreds of members of Myanmar’s deposed ruling party declared themselves Friday to be the sole legitimate representatives of the people and asked for international recognition as the country’s government, as protests against the military takeover swelled.
Nearly 300 politicians from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party announced they had named a committee to carry out the functions of parliament, according to a National League for Democracy party Facebook page. In a letter to the United Nations and the international community posted on social media, the party also asked for targeted sanctions and for businesses to cut ties with the military, which has vast lucrative holdings. The party promised to act “in the best interests of our people and in the very essence of democracy.”
The lawmakers had been set to take their seats Monday in a new session of parliament, when the military announced it was taking power for a year and detained them, though most have since been released. It was not clear what, if any, practical effect the lawmakers’ declaration would have. Several countries have already denounced the coup, and the U.S. has threatened new sanctions.
Resistance has been gathering steam ever since the takeover — seen internationally as a shocking setback in the Southeast Asian country, which had been making significant, if uneven progress, toward democracy after decades of military rule. Military pushback is ramping up as well, and the latest politician detained was Win Htein, a senior member of Suu Kyi’s party. Suu Kyi and President Win Myint are also under house arrest and have been charged with minor offences.
In the largest rallies since the takeover, hundreds of students and teachers took to Myanmar’s streets Friday to demand the military hand power back to elected politicians. Demonstrations spread to several parts of the country, even in the tightly controlled capital.
Opposition to the coup began initially with people banging pots and pans outside their windows in Yangon, the country’s largest city — under the cover of darkness each evening to avoid being targeted. But now people are being more vocal and visible, and students and medical workers have led the charge.
About 400 protesters in total rallied at two universities in Yangon, some flashing a threefingered salute, a sign of resistance borrowed from “The Hunger Games” movies, that they adopted from anti-government protesters in neighbouring Thailand. They chanted “Long live Mother Suu” — a reference to Suu Kyi — and “We don’t want military dictatorship.” At the city’s Dagon University, meanwhile, many carried papers printed with images of red ribbons — the symbol of the civil disobedience campaign that activists and Suu Kyi’s party has called for.
There was also at least one demonstration Friday in Naypyitaw — highly unusual for the city, which was purpose-built under the previous military government, has a heavy military presence and lacks the tradition of protest of the former capital, Yangon.