Myanmar general pledges again to hold new election as anti-coup protests grow

- Myanmar's military leader said on Monday his junta would hold a new election and hand power to the winner as tens of thousands of people took to the streets for a third day to protest against the coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was speaking in a televised address, his first to the country since last Monday's military takeover. He did not say when the election would be held, but repeated claims that last November's poll, won by Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), had been fraudulent.

In the capital Naypyitaw, crowds of protesters chanted anti-coup slogans and told police they should serve the people not the military, according to media and a live feed of events.

Police turned water cannon on protesters and warned that they might use live fire if the demonstrators did not disperse, but the protests ended without bloodshed.

The U.S. Embassy said it had received reports that a curfew had been imposed in Yangon and Mandalay, the second-biggest city, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday that the United States supported the right of the people to assemble peacefully and that it was concerned about restrictions being imposed on public gatherings.

Four City Hall employees who were previously sent on leave after being implicated in fraudulent activity recently returned to work.

Acting Town Clerk Julian Orgista stated that a decision was taken to place the staff, who had been working in the Treasurer’s Department, in different departments where they would not be handling cash, such as Public Health Department and the City Engineer’s Department.

In July of last year, it was disclosed by City Hall that five employees from the City Treasurer’s Department had been sent on administrative leave following an allegation that they committed fraud.

However, an internal investigation had implicated three of those employees in fraud and one of them forfeited his job.

Stabroek News had reported that after making the discovery City Treasurer John Douglas alerted the Town Clerk, who then reported the allegation to Mayor Ubraj Narine and a decision was made to pursue further investigations into the allegation.

Narine had said the investigation was launched by the City Constabulary and three of the five persons accused were found to be responsible, while the remaining two were cleared.

The mastermind, who was one of the three persons implicated, subsequently walked off the job.

The council had voted to have the remaining workers suspended, transferred to another department which does not handle cash, and reimburse the council its money, which is said to amount to under $100,000.

However, Councillor Clayton Hinds had suggested that they be closely monitored for a year and a report done on a quarterly basis to assist in determining their fate.

This suggestion was approved by the council, with a seven votes in its favour, and two against. Three other councillors abstained from the vote.

Additionally, Narine had revealed that the probe found that the workers were aware of the illegal activities that were being done, and noted that the occurrence would see a new way of moving forward as it relates to the changing of cheques.