Global pressure on Myanmar grows as protesters march on

Yangon, March 20

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Opponents of Myanmar’s coup protested again on Saturday and international pressure on the military junta to halt its repression of democracy supporters increased, with Asian neighbours joining Western countries in condemning lethal force.

A youth was shot in one of the most turbulent neighbourhoods of the main city of Yangon, a resident and media reported, taking the toll since the February 1 coup to 238, according to a tally by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group. The bloodshed has not quelled public abhorrence for the return of military rule and anger over the ouster of the elected government and the detention of its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

But some activists say they have had to adapt tactics.

“We protest where there are no police or military, then when we hear they’re coming, we disperse quickly,” campaigner Kyaw Min Htike told Reuters from Dawei. Some groups gather at night with candles and placards, then melt away after taking photographs. People also stage “unmanned” protests, with rows of placards with messages like “We will never stop until we get democracy” set up on a street.

On Saturday, dozens of protesters gathered in the second city of Mandalay. Several were injured when a vehicle drove into them and when police fired rubber bullets, a city news portal reported. — Reuters

Call ASEAN meet

“I will ask Brunei, the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to call an urgent meeting. Indonesia urges that the use of violence in Myanmar be stopped immediately so that there are no more victims” — Joko Widodo, Indonesian president

Can’t see destabilisation

“I am appalled by the persistent use of lethal violence against unarmed civilians. We… cannot afford to see our brotherly nation of Myanmar become so destabilised at the hands of a selected few, who seek to promote their own vested interests” — Muhyiddin Yassin, Malaysian PM