Myanmar coup causes protests - 10th February 2021

A coup by Myanmar's armed forces has triggered mass protests across the country, with crowds of thousands gathering to demand the release of the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was placed under house arrest on 1st February.

The junta also detained members of Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), effectively putting an end to ten years of civilian rule.

Choruses of "down with the military dictatorship" and "release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi" filled the air at the weekend rallies. Many protestors had their hands raised in 'the three finger salute', a gesture appropriated from box office hit "The Hunger Games", which depicted revolutionaries' struggle against an autocratic tyrant.

Despite the military commanding media companies to shut down access to the internet, the countrywide protests were livestreamed on Facebook and other social media sites. On Monday, the demonstrations continued in the form of a national strike.

The generals have defended military intervention in Myanmar's governance, alleging November's elections were subject to widespread voter fraud. They have imposed a state of emergency, proposing to hold another election in a year's time.

The generals' power grab has drawn widespread condemnation from leaders across the globe. US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis are among those demanding the armed forces relinquish power.