National Strike Against Coup, Myanmar Military Arrests Protesters And Aims For Camera Journalists

Demonstration against Myanmar military coup. (Twitter / @ David_Khaing_)

JAKARTA - A general national strike, followed by a demonstration of millions of Myanmar citizens which was held on Monday, February 22, is planned to continue today.

The Myanmar police and military are on guard on several roads in the main cities in Myanmar. The main entrances to Naypyitaw and the main streets of Pyinmana are heavily guarded by Myanmar military personnel and police.

In addition, main access roads in Yangon, including roads leading to foreign embassies and UN representatives, which are favorite locations for protesters, are also heavily guarded.

Myanmar citizens are not afraid, even though the Myanmar military forcibly dispersed the national strike on Monday, followed by repressive actions by Myanmar police personnel and the arrests of several people on Monday

In several places in Pyinmana Township, police violently dispersed Myanmar military anti-coup protesters, forcibly pushing them into prisoner transport vehicles and police trucks, according to local residents reported by The Irrawaddy.

Residents said security officers arrested at least 10 people in Ottara Thiri Naypyitaw Township, five in Zabu Thiri Township, and at least five in Pyinmana Township. Hundreds of protesters are currently said to be hiding in nearby homes and monasteries.

A person participating in the demonstration said he saw five Myanmar police trucks full of protesters. A reporter who escaped from the scene said security forces also tried to confiscate cameras from journalists and target them for arrest.

"One military officer even shouted at his subordinates to arrest journalists, and took our cameras from us, while chasing anti-coup protesters", he said.

Meanwhile, according to Myanmar Now, five of the roughly 20 protesters arrested yesterday were a group of engineers who will join the protesters in a general strike.

Witnesses said the arrests were made after the group that gathered at 08.00 local time near the Hninsi Roundabout, on Yarza Htarni street, dispersed around noon.

“There are thousands of people who separated after the protests. A police vehicle followed the car carrying the five arrested engineers and stopped it near the Bawga Thiri bus terminal”, said an eye witness who is also the protest coordinator.

LIVE: The protests against the military coup continue unabated. Here is a latest one on Tuesday morning in the town of Kutkai in the northern Shan State. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar https://t.co/59ENYEK79C

- Myanmar Now (@Myanmar_Now_Eng) February 23, 2021