YANGON – Hundreds of soldiers and police swooped on a railway station here today seeking to arrest workers on strike to protest against the military coup in Myanmar.
The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last month, triggering daily protests around the country to demand the return of democracy.
Security forces have responded with an increasingly brutal crackdown involving tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets, as well as isolated incidents of live rounds.
Close to 2,000 people have been arrested, and the death toll has climbed to more than 60.
Thousands of government workers across the country have been participating in a civil disobedience movement aimed at choking the state’s institutions and paralysing the economy.
The movement has resulted in hospital disruptions, bank closures and empty ministry offices.
Hundreds of soldiers and police were deployed to Ma Hlwa Gone railway station and its staff housing compound this morning, where about 800 workers are participating in strike action.
“We are united,” railway workers chanted as authorities blocked off a road, according to a live feed on Facebook.
“Around 300 security personnel are blocking the road searching for the people who are involved in the civil disobedience movement,” said a 32-year-old woman who lives at the site.
“I escaped, but there were many left, I am worried about the remaining workers. I just hope they don’t arrest the people, if they do, it is troubling because they could beat and kill them.”
Sarong arrests
There is another heavy police presence in Yangon’s central San Chaung this morning following tensions two nights ago, in which security forces sealed off a block of streets, confining around 200 anti-coup protesters before searching apartments.
State media today reported the arrest of seven protesters in that area for hanging the pictures of a monk on female longyis, or sarongs, on Monday morning.
Protesters have been hanging women’s longyis across streets to play on security forces’ fear of Myanmar traditions that say women’s lower parts and the garments that cover them can sap men’s power.
“A total of seven rioters were investigated, and (action will be taken) according to the law for their act of (insulting) the religion,” said the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.
It was another restless night in parts of Yangon yesterday, with security forces setting fire to protesters’ makeshift barricades at Thingangyun.
A 26-year-old resident said authorities are trying to incite fear and had threatened to set peoples’ homes on fire.
“But they did not succeed.”
The coup and crackdown have triggered international condemnation, and in the latest diplomatic effort, the French ambassador to Myanmar visited Yangon’s Insein prison today.
“I went... to meet the parents of hundreds of students and peaceful protesters arbitrary detained,” Christian Lechervy wrote on Facebook.
“France calls for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all political prisoners jailed since the beginning of the military coup on February 1.” – AFP, March 10, 2021
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