Myanmar witnessed today, Thursday, its first protest demonstration against the military coup, as video clips showed a number of protesters in the streets of Mandalay, the second largest city in the country, while the military authorities ordered to block the social networking site Facebook.

Reuters said that footage posted on Facebook showed about 20 people demonstrating outside Mandalay Medical University.

The protesters held up banners that read, "The people protest the military coup," and chanted, "Release our detained leaders now."

The agency stated that this is the first street protest against the coup that took place last Monday, and indicated that the military rulers in Myanmar have a history of bloody suppression of street protests.

Student groups and local media said that at least 3 people were arrested today after the protest in Mandalay.

Cut off communication services

Meanwhile, the military authorities ordered the blocking of Facebook, claiming to ensure stability in the country.

The Ministry of Communications said that Facebook - which is used by half of Myanmar's population of more than 53 million people - will remain blocked until February 7, because its users "spread false news, misleading information and cause misunderstandings."

For its part, Facebook said that its service "faces problems" in Myanmar, while the Norwegian company, Telnor, one of the largest telecommunications providers in the country, confirmed that the authorities issued the order to temporarily disable Facebook, and said, "We had to cut the service, but we do not think that this measure is respected." international law".

Reuters said Facebook was still available but intermittently, and indicated that protesters in Mandalay had used it to broadcast the first anti-coup protest.

The authorities also ordered the blocking of the Facebook messaging app WhatsApp.

The army seized power suddenly on Monday, putting an end to the path of democratic transition in the country, declaring a state of emergency for a year and arresting the country's elected leader Aung San Sochi, 75, who was charged Wednesday with violating the import and export law, for allegedly finding communication devices. Unlicensed wireless router in her home.

The President of Myanmar, Win Myint, who was ousted by the coup, was also charged with violating the Disaster Management Law, claiming that the measures to combat the "Covid-19" pandemic were not respected.

However, calls to resist the coup are escalating at home, in parallel with strong external condemnation by the United Nations and many Western capitals.

On Wednesday evening, some residents blew car horns and banged on cooking utensils for the second night in a row, chanting slogans in support of the country's chancellor Aung San Suu Kyi, while others raised the three-finger slogan, a salute adopted by pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong and Thailand.

Workers in the health sector participated in the protest against the coup, as dozens of hospital institutions refused to operate "under illegal military authority."

Groups calling for “civil disobedience” were formed via the Facebook network.

"We have the digital power to counter the military power," said activist Tenzar Shunli Yi.

On the other hand, hundreds of army supporters gathered in the capital Naypyidaw today, Thursday, and raised banners reading "We do not want any more traitors, agents of foreign countries" and "The army loves people."

Guterres stresses his tone

On the level of international positions, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stressed his rhetoric, stressing that he would "do his utmost to mobilize all the main parties and the international community to pressure Myanmar to ensure the failure of the coup."

In an interview with The Washington Post, he added, "It is absolutely unacceptable to change the election results and the will of the people," expressing his regret at the failure of the UN Security Council to agree on a joint declaration on the coup.

The council held an emergency meeting Tuesday, but it failed to agree on a common position, as China, which has the right of veto, remains a major supporter of Myanmar.

On the other hand, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned Thursday the arrest of Aung San Sochi and the indictment of her and other elected officials.

"They should be released immediately and the charges dropped ... democracy should not retreat," he said.

The commander of the Myanmar army, Min Aung Hling, who now controls power in the country, justified the coup by widespread fraud on the part of the "National League for Democracy", the Sochi Party, last November, while international observers believed that the vote took place without Little problems.