Tag: junta

Myanmar junta re-arrests more than 100 released in amnesty: monitoring group

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Myanmar’s junta has re-arrested more than 100 anti-coup protesters freed in a recent amnesty, according to a local monitoring group that tracks detentions and killings in the country. The Southeast Asian nation has been in chaos since the February coup, with more than 1,100 killed in a crackdown on dissent and over 8,000 arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). On Monday, the military announced it would free […]

Myanmar military cracks down on protesters as junta leader in summit

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s military cracked down on anti-coup protesters on Saturday, killing at least one according to a witness, as the junta leader sat down with heads of states in a regional summit over the violence. The country has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup, triggering a mass uprising from all corners of Myanmar society demanding a return to democracy. Cities, rural […]

Global condemnation after bloodiest day since Myanmar coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Defence chiefs from a dozen countries on Sunday jointly condemned the bloodbath in Myanmar a day earlier, when at least 90 people — including several children — were killed after security forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering mass protests demanding a return to democracy. The junta on Saturday staged a major show […]

UN fears ‘crimes against humanity’ in Myanmar; says at least 70 killed since Feb. 1 coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s military is likely committing “crimes against humanity” in its attempt to stay in power, a UN expert said Thursday, as the junta claimed that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepted illegal payments of cash and gold. At least 70 people have reportedly been “murdered” since the February 1 coup, said Thomas Andrews, the UN’s top expert on rights in Myanmar. The country is “controlled by a murderous, […]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with two new criminal charges as she appears via video in court

  NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges when she appeared in court via video link on Monday, a month after a military coup triggered relentless and massive protests. Suu Kyi has not been seen since being detained on February 1, and her appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of deadly force […]

Myanmar police fire rubber bullets on protesters as UN envoy breaks ranks

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon on Saturday, after the country’s ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional plea for action against the military junta. The country has been shaken by a wave of protests since a coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Authorities have ramped up the use of force to suppress dissent, deploying tear gas, […]

US urges Myanmar junta to yield power after protester death

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Washington has urged the leaders of Myanmar’s new military regime to refrain from violence and relinquish power, after the death of a young anti-coup protester sparked new anger against the junta. Much of the country has been in uproar since troops deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with large street demonstrations in both urban centres and isolated villages. Security forces have responded with increasing force, deploying […]

First death hits Myanmar’s anti-coup movement as pressure swells against generals

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — A young protester died Friday, more than a week after being shot in anti-coup demonstrations in Myanmar, offering a fresh source of anger inside the country as international pressure grows on the generals who seized power. Much of the country has been in open revolt since troops deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with disparate strands of Myanmar society uniting to protest against a return to […]

Suu Kyi hit with second charge as Myanmar junta tightens grip

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with another charge on Tuesday, after the military imposed a second straight overnight internet shutdown in an attempt to grind down an anti-coup uprising. In the two weeks since the generals ousted Suu Kyi and put the civilian leader under house arrest in the administrative capital Naypyidaw, big cities and isolated village communities alike have been in open revolt. The military […]

Military rule will be different this time: Myanmar coup leader

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s army chief on Monday insisted military rule would be different this time, as martial law was declared across swathes of the country after massive protests against the new junta. Orders covering parts of Yangon, Mandalay and other areas banned people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and imposing an 8:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew. New junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing, wearing a green military […]

Thai junta holds onto lead as nation awaits election results

by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI and Joe FREEMAN Results of Thailand’s first election since the 2014 coup were expected to trickle out Monday, with the junta primed to retain its grip on power after a vote that saw its main rival diminished, but vaulted a new pro-democracy force into the kingdom’s politics. The Election Commission delayed without explanation a full announcement of preliminary results on Sunday night as a blizzard of complaints mounted over apparent mistakes in […]

Hundreds join anti-junta rally in Thailand as calls for democracy grow

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Hundreds of pro-democracy Thais rallied in Bangkok on Saturday to skewer the ruling junta with T-shirts, signs and speeches, as activists grow bolder in their defiance of a ban on protests. The military regime has kept a tight rein on dissent since its 2014 power grab by outlawing gatherings of more than five people and pursuing activists in the courts. But impatience with the generals has been mounting ever since their latest […]