Myanmar in silent protest exactly two years after coup

THE streets of Yangon were empty yesterday as citizens carried out a nationwide “silent strike” to protest against a military coup that plunged Myanmar into a civil war exactly two years ago.

It came as the military authorities announced a six-month extension to a state of emergency, likely delaying elections the junta had pledged to hold by August as they battle anti-coup fighters.

The military would always be the “guardian of the interests of the state and people ... under whichever government comes”, said Min Aung Hlaing, the general who seized power two years ago, reported state broadcaster MRTV.

It was greeted with silence in cities across Myanmar. Photos on social media showed normally busy roads devoid of traffic along with shuttered cafés, shops and marketplaces. The crackdown has stoked armed insurgencies, killed 3,000 civilians and forced nearly 1.2million from their homes.

“Despite the many atrocities, horrific war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the junta, the people of Myanmar have continued to resist bravely and stand in solidarity with their heads held high,” said Dr Sasa, a minister in the National Unity Government – an administration in exile.

The UK, US, Canada and Australia announced fresh sanctions to mark the anniversary, targeting members of the junta and junta-backed entities. Britain announced curbs on aviation fuel to the military that enabled its “barbaric air raiding campaign”, with James Cleverly,

‘Despite the crimes against humanity by the junta, the people of Myanmar have continued to resist bravely’

the Foreign Secretary, demanding the junta be held accountable for its “brazen human rights violations”.

The Burma Campaign UK called the targeting of aviation fuel “spot on” but criticised the “snail’s pace” of implementing sanctions, which have failed to throw the military regime off course.

The conflict “has been forgotten”, said Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.