YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – While enthusiastic crowds of tens of thousands marched through the streets of Myanmar’s largest city on Sunday to protest last week’s coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government, their spirits improved with the return of Internet services that had been blocked the day before.
Separate protests that began in various parts of Yangon converged on Sule Pagoda, located in the center of a roundabout in the city center. Protesters shouted “Long live Mother Suu” and “Down with the military dictatorship”. Protesters in other parts of the country echoed his calls.
Authorities cut off Internet access as protests increased on Saturday, fueling fears of a complete blackout. On Sunday afternoon, however, internet users in Yangon reported that access to data on their cell phones was suddenly restored.
Protesters are trying to reverse the military’s seizure of power last Monday and demanding the release of Suu Kyi, the country’s deposed leader, and other leading figures from his National League for Democracy party.
The military accused the Suu Kyi government of failing to act based on complaints that last November’s election was marked by fraud, although the electoral commission said it found no evidence to support the allegations.
The growing protests are a strong reminder of the long and bloody struggle for democracy in a country that the military directly governed for more than five decades before loosening control in 2012. Suu Kyi’s government, which won an overwhelming election in 2015, was the first led by civilians in decades, although it faced a series of restrictions on its power under a constitution drafted by the military.
During the years of Myanmar’s isolation under the military regime, the Golden Sule Pagoda served as a meeting place for political protests calling for democracy, mainly during a massive 1988 uprising and again during a 2007 monks-led uprising Buddhists.
The military used deadly force to end both uprisings, with estimates of hundreds, if not thousands, killed in 1988. Although the riot police were sent to watch the protests last week, the soldiers were absent and there were no reports of confrontations.
Several videos posted online on Sunday from the city of Myawaddy, on the eastern border of Myanmar with Thailand, showed police officers shooting into the air in an evident effort to disperse the crowd. There were no signs of panic and no reports of injuries.
Showing little fear, protest crowds have grown larger and bolder in recent days, although they remain nonviolent in support of an appeal by Suu Kyi’s party and its allies for civil disobedience.
At one of Sunday’s meetings, at least 2,000 unions, student activists and members of the public gathered at a large intersection near Yangon University. They marched along a main road, heavy traffic. The drivers blew their horns in support.
Police with riot gear blocked the university’s main entrance. Two water cannon trucks were parked nearby.
The mostly young protesters held signs asking for the freedom of Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who were placed under house arrest and charged with petty crimes, seen by many as a legal varnish for their detention.
“We just want to show this generation how the older generation is fighting this crisis, given Mother Suu’s guidance, which is to be honest, transparent and peaceful,” said 46-year-old protester Htain Linn Aung. “We don’t want a military dictator. Let the dictator fall. “
Social media reports and some Myanmar news services said the demonstrations were also taking place in other parts of the country, with a particularly large crowd in the central city of Mandalay, where there was also a motorcycle procession in which hundreds participated, constantly honking their horns. your horns.
Saturday saw the size of street protests grow from hundreds to thousands, but it also saw authorities cut off most Internet access. Holes in the military firewall allowed some news to leak, but they also fueled fears of a total blackout.
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were previously blocked, but remained partially accessible. Social media platforms have been the main sources of independent news, as well as organizing tools for protests.
Netblocks, a London-based service that tracks Internet outages and shutdowns, confirmed that there was a partial restoration of Internet connectivity on Sunday, but noted that it could be temporary and social networks blocked.
Blocking communications was a stark reminder of the progress Myanmar is at risk of losing. During Myanmar’s decades of military rule, the country was isolated internationally and communication with the outside world was strictly controlled.
Suu Kyi’s elected legislators met at an online meeting on Friday to declare themselves the only legitimate representatives of the people and asked for international recognition as the country’s government.
Pope Francis joined the international chorus of concern about the situation.
Speaking to the public in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, the pope said he has been following “with great concern the situation that has developed in Myanmar”, noting his affection for the country since his visit to the country in 2017.
He said he hoped Myanmar’s leaders would work sincerely “to promote social justice and national stability for harmonious democratic coexistence”.