The leaders of the military coup in Myanmar threatened today, Monday, for the first time, to take "steps" against the protesters, at a time when the European Union called the United Nations Human Rights Council to an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
State-owned MRTV said, "Steps must be taken in accordance with the law ... against violations that disrupt, prevent and destroy the stability of the state, public security and the rule of law," in a message that the military posted on social media.
This is the first warning issued by the authorities since the demonstrations began on Saturday, when huge crowds demonstrate against the coup that ousted leader Aung San Sochi.
Anger is increasing in the country, as hundreds of thousands of people gathered today, according to several estimates, in Yangon, the country's economic capital, and hanging banners wrote: "Free our leaders", "respect our voices" and "reject the coup."
Demonstrations were also held in a large number of cities in the country, and a number of residents went out on bicycles with car horns, as happened in Tango, 300 km north of Yangon, but the level of tension is high, and the police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators in the capital Naypyidaw.
This wave of anger is unprecedented in Myanmar since the popular uprising in 2007, which was called the "Saffron Revolution", was led by monks and was violently suppressed by the army.
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On February 1, the army ended a fragile democratic process, declared a year-long state of emergency, and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her party.
Since then, more than 150 people have been arrested, including parliamentarians, local officials and activists, who are still in detention, according to the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners.
Internet service and mobile data service have partially returned, but on Monday, access to Facebook, the means of communication used by millions of Myanmar residents, is still blocked.
Many circumvented the censorship using virtual private networks (VPNs) that allow changing restrictions related to the geographical location.
The recent events in Myanmar remain at the center of the international agenda, although no concrete move has yet been taken against the army chiefs.
A few days ago, the United Nations called for the release of all detainees, but was unable to officially condemn the coup in its joint declaration due to opposition from China and Russia, as part of their traditional support for the Myanmar army at the United Nations.
On the other hand, the European Union and the United States are threatening to impose sanctions.
On Monday, Britain, the European Union and 19 members of the United Nations Human Rights Council called for an emergency meeting to discuss the situation.
The British ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said that this request is "a response to the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar and the arbitrary detention of democratically elected political officials and members of civil society."