Burma: ethnic minorities alongside pro-democracy protesters
Burmese from the Karen ethnic minority show three-fingered salutes as they protest against the military coup in Yangon on February 11, 2021. © REUTERS - STRINGER
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2 min
Since the protests began, ethnic minorities in Burma have joined the movement to make sure their voices are heard as well.
Certain minorities are the army's first targets, some of them have been in conflict with the military for decades, and the coming to power of the junta raises fears of further massacres.
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Burma has 135 ethnic minorities and today they no longer want to be marginalized.
Uniting against a common enemy is the reason why many minorities have joined the
anti-junta protest
movements
.
Like the rest of the Burmese population, these groups want the end of the military regime.
For example, near the town of Dawei in the south of the country, hundreds of Karen people have continued to demonstrate in recent days, waving their blue, white and red flags and calling for "
an end to the dictatorship
".
To ensure their protection, the Karen National Union, one of the main armed rebel movements, regularly escorts the processions.
In mid-February, 29 ethnic groups united to create the National Inter-Community Strike Group to support minorities and ensure they are protected during protests.
For the representatives of the Chin minority, to fight today is to "
ensure the hope of a better future
" because they fear above all that the repression of minorities will be accentuated if the army remains in power after this. Rebellion.
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To read also: Burma: two demonstrators killed, shops and factories closed after the call to strike
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Burma
Aung San Suu Kyi