"There is no danger"! Myanmar's national strike paralysed traffic in many cities, opposing the relative restraint of both sides
[Global Times Special Correspondent Li Bingxin in Myanmar Global Times Special Correspondent Wang Yi] Since the Myanmar military detained a group of senior officials from the National League for Democracy (LDD) including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in early February, demonstrations have continued throughout Myanmar .
On the 22nd, tens of thousands of demonstrators supporting Aung San Suu Kyi staged a general strike across Myanmar, causing traffic in many cities to be paralyzed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar said on the 21st that the authorities are showing "the greatest degree of restraint" and warned of improper remarks by certain foreign embassies in Myanmar, calling it serious interference in Myanmar's internal affairs.
According to local media reports, starting from around 8 o'clock in the morning on the 22nd, groups of protest crowds flocked to Suleita and Leydan Center in downtown Yangon. They kept chanting slogans with loudspeakers to demand the release of the detainees. The detained NLD leader will restore the democratically elected government.
The protesters also blocked the main intersections in Yangon, causing extensive traffic jams in all sections of the city, and traffic was completely paralyzed.
Restaurants, shopping malls, gas stations and other business businesses closed their doors to participate in this protest. Myanmar’s largest retailer City Mart and its affiliated MarketPlace, Ocean and other large supermarkets also closed all chain stores to support the protesters’ demonstrations activity.
In fact, some local social media posted notices the day before that a national general strike and protest march would be held on the 22nd.
It is understood that this protest was mainly initiated by the China Democratic League and some other non-governmental organizations.
Choosing this day is also to consider again and again, because there is still one week before the military interrogates the leaders of the NLD on March 1. Launching such a massive protest demonstration will undoubtedly cause tremendous psychological pressure on the military and cause the military to When interrogating the leaders of the Democratic League, consider the voice of the people. At the same time, it can also allow time for both parties to use this week to brew some possible changes.
According to Reuters, Myanmar demonstrators believe that there are four of the dates on February 22, 20212, which are similar in meaning to the "8888 Democracy Movement" that took place on August 8, 1988.
Singapore’s “Lianhe Zaobao” reported on the 22nd that in addition to Yangon, thousands of protesters also gathered in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar. There were also large-scale protests in Myitkyina and Dawei.
Reuters said that compared with the early stages of the riots during the military rule of nearly half a century, the response of Myanmar's security forces this time was not drastic.
During the national protests and demonstrations on the 22nd, about a thousand police officers in Yangon maintained order at the scene.
The police set up roadblocks and cordon outside the gates of some foreign embassies in Myanmar. The police and the protesters were generally more restrained and no direct conflict occurred.
However, according to local media reports, the military and police in Naypyidaw used high-pressure water guns to disperse demonstrators without warning and arrested the protesters.
A male demonstrator in Bago Province died during a break. The media speculated that the cause of death was heat stroke. The highest temperature in Bago Province that day was 38 degrees Celsius.
In addition, during the protests held in Nay Pyi Taw last week, a 19-year-old girl named Miao Dui Duikai was hit by a stray bullet. The incident aroused the anger of more protesters, which is one of the reasons why large-scale protests and demonstrations occurred in Myanmar on the 22nd.
Myanmar National Television issued a statement on the 21st warning that “the government found that the demonstrators incited the people to participate in the riots on the 22nd, leaving the country into anarchy. The demonstrators are now inciting the people, especially the agitated teenagers, to cause them to lose their lives. The road of resistance.” The Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stated that the country is facing illegal demonstrations that cause violence and riots.
In order to ensure the safety of the people and uphold the rule of law, the parties concerned take actions with minimum force in accordance with domestic laws and international standards.
Coincidentally, U.S. Secretary of State Blincoln tweeted on the 21st local time that he would stand with the people of Myanmar, causing some protesters to mistakenly believe that "the United States is coming to save Myanmar". Fortunately, most of the protesters were not fooled. As of the time this reporter presses this article, the protests have basically come to an end.
According to Reuters, German Foreign Minister Maas said before a meeting with the foreign ministers of other EU countries on the 22nd that the EU may impose sanctions on Myanmar as a last resort in view of the Myanmar military’s actions against the elected government.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated at a regular press conference on the 22nd that as a friendly neighbor of Myanmar, China is concerned about the current situation in Myanmar and hopes that all parties in Myanmar will proceed from the overall situation of national development and stability, exercise restraint, and handle properly under the constitution and legal framework. Disagreements and maintain political and social stability.