As outrage grows, Myanmar imposes curfew
Yangon (Myanmar), Feb. 8: Myanmar’s military government has imposed a curfew and bans on gatherings of more than five people in the country’s two biggest cities as protests against its coup show no sign of abating.
The decrees covering Yangon and Mandalay were issued on a township-by-township basis, and those which have become public so far have the same restrictions. At least seven have been issued, and more are expected for other areas.
Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorised processions, are banned, and a 8 pm to 4 am curfew is imposed. The measures are effective until further notice.
The decrees say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful actions that harm the rule of law.
Earlier, the police fired a water cannon at hundreds of protesters in Myanmar’s capital who are demanding the military hand power back to elected officials, as demonstrations against last week’s coup intensified and spread to more parts of the country.
Protesters also rallied at a major downtown intersection in the country’s largest city, Yangon, raising a three-finger salute that is a symbol of resistance and carrying placards saying, “Reject the military coup” and “Justice for Myanmar”.
◗ THE POLICE fired a water cannon at hundreds of protesters in Myanmar's capital who are demanding the military hand power back to elected officials
Yangon, Feb. 8 : Myanmar’s military government imposed a curfew and bans on gatherings of more than five people in the country’s two biggest cities on Monday as protests against last week's coup showed no sign of abating.
The decrees covering Yangon and Mandalay were issued on a township-by-township basis, and those which have become public so far have the same restrictions. At least seven have been issued, and more are expected for other areas. Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, are banned, and a 8 pm to 4 am curfew is imposed. The measures are effective until further notice. The decrees say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful actions that harm the rule of law.
The generals issued a stern warning Monday against further protests as an 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 in Naypyidaw.
The military last week detained Suu Kyi and dozens of other members of her National League for Democracy party, ending a decade of 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.
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.