While the junta faces an unprecedented protest movement, Burma is entering the fourth year of the deadly civil conflict caused by the coup d'état of February 1, 2021.
In Rangoon, the economic capital, the streets were quieter than usual, echoing calls from the opposition to stay at home to protest in a "silent" manner against the generals, AFP journalists noted. .
“I am happy to see that there are not many people on the streets,” said an office worker, who decided not to leave her house between 10 a.m. (4:30 p.m. GMT) and 4 p.m. (10:30 p.m. GMT).
“This is proof of our unity against the coup,” she continued, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
A man crosses an almost empty street during a "silent strike" to protest and mark the third anniversary of the military coup in Rangoon, February 1, 2024. © AFP
In the North, the streets were almost deserted in Mogok, known for its ruby and jade mines, where clashes took place recently.
“Some residents have moved to other towns recently because of the fighting. People are afraid but still want to show solidarity,” described a resident of the town.
The junta on Wednesday extended the state of emergency in place since the putsch for another six months, once again postponing the promised elections, and conditional on a return to normality – a challenge in a country torn by a bloody civil conflict.
In the name of "fighting terrorists", the military is pursuing supporters of a return to democracy in different regions of Burma, with violent methods which have earned Burma ostracism from the international community.
The Burmese army under pressure
The fighting has displaced more than two million civilians, the United Nations said.
More than 4,400 people have been killed in the post-coup crackdown, according to a local monitoring group.
The third anniversary of the putsch against elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi marks a “gloomy” day, said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
“The Secretary-General underlines the urgency of paving the way for a democratic transition with a return to civilian rule,” he insisted in a press release.
The army justified its takeover by citing fraud during the 2020 legislative elections, won hands down by the party of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. Accusations that are unfounded, according to observers.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing assured Wednesday that the army will do "whatever is necessary" to restore stability, but a recent series of setbacks has weakened his position vis-à-vis his troops.
Despite summary means, the dozens of people's defense groups (People's Defense Forces, PDF), which spread following the putsch, surprised the army with their effectiveness, and favored the stagnation of the conflict, according to the analysts.
Near the Chinese border, three ethnic groups managed to capture strategic towns and routes for trade with China, via a coordinated attack at the end of October, which posed a military challenge on a scale not seen since the putsch.
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A ceasefire agreement under the aegis of Beijing has allowed the violence to stop in this region, favoring the coalition of insurgents who have retained their captures, but other fighting is raging elsewhere.
This situation has damaged the morale of the mid-level officers contacted by the AFP, all of whom asked to remain anonymous.
A prison for journalists
The human rights situation in Burma continues to deteriorate, the United Nations recalled on Tuesday.
“Military tactics have always focused on punishing civilians they see as supporting their enemies,” stressed UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
The junta has burned villages, carried out summary executions and used aerial bombardments and artillery strikes to punish communities refusing its power, human rights groups and opponents have denounced.
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The army also targeted media deemed critical, revoking broadcasting authorizations or imprisoning dozens of journalists.
In 2023, Burma is the second largest prison for journalists in the world, just after China, with 43 journalists behind bars, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
A joint statement from the foreign ministries of several countries and organizations, including the United States and the European Union, called Wednesday for the release of political prisoners and an end to violence against civilians.
Diplomatic efforts to achieve a peaceful outcome have remained in vain, despite initiatives from the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), of which Burma is a member.
The United States announced new sanctions on Wednesday against two entities “closely associated with the Burmese military regime” and four individuals.
With AFP
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