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MYANMAR PROTESTERS DEFY NIGHT CURFEW TO HOLD VIGIL IN YANGON
- By The Financial District
- Mar 13, 2021
- 2 min read
Thousands of people gathered in Yangon to attend a vigil on Friday evening despite a night-time curfew and the growing threat of violence from security forces, as protests continue against the military coup, Carola Frentzen reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).
People came to the Hedlan district of Yangon, many holding candles, according to The Irrawaddy newspaper and other local media. Others carried posters demanding the release of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Rallies were also held in many other parts of the Southeast Asian country after dark, in gatherings that were peaceful at the outset.
The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), which is organizing resistance in the country, tweeted, "People are now gathering in Hledan, Yangon despite the pressure of heavy crackdown and violence."
It added: "We are demonstrating incredible resilience and courage in the face of barbaric brutality and extreme violence. Please do your job, international community!" the CDM said. Since a military coup at the beginning of February, there have been daily mass demonstrations in Myanmar.
The protesters are demanding the release of Suu Kyi and the reinstatement of her civilian government. The military is responding to the protests with increasing brutality. More than 70 people have been killed since the beginning of the protests and about 1,900 arrested, according to estimates by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a non-profit organization in Myanmar. International appeals and sanctions have had no effect so far.
On Friday, South Korea announced a range of measures, including halting the export of military items to Myanmar in response to the junta's violent crackdown on protests.
The Foreign Ministry in Seoul said it would also carry out strict controls on goods with civilian and military uses and would suspend defense and security exchanges with Myanmar.
It stressed that no weapons had been supplied to Myanmar since the beginning of 2019. In a further measure, Seoul is now weighing reconsidering development aid to Myanmar, although it will continue to provide humanitarian aid.
