Burma, also known as Myanmar, is vacant on International Human Rights Day as protesters strike a national “silence” in opposition to the military regime that expelled leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was elected in the February coup. Prepared for the street.
Social media photos show the streets of Yangon, a densely populated city with all stores closed on Friday and no traffic, usually crowded with public transport. A national silent strike also stagnated the city of Mandalay.
“A video of Yangon and Mandalay transformed into a ghost town by the massive #SilentStrike. People are showing power and they own the city,” said the civil disobedience movement. Tweet In a video showing the streets in the sky on Friday.
Also published by the US Embassy in Yangon Alert Regarding the silent strike, the protests warned that “an unknown percentage of military response could occur” and advised civilians to stay home.
Since Thursday, authorities have announced that measures will be taken against stores that close for no acceptable reason in some areas.
The owner of the Muse market in northern Shan State said the official Township Development Commission threatened to take action against the store that closed on Friday morning with speakers.
“They announced in town that if we went ahead and closed a store or market for no reason, we would close our store for a month. But we don’t care now. It’s time to show our unity, “said the vendor, who demanded that he remain anonymous for fear of retaliation from the authorities.
A national silent strike took place on Tuesday after reports of a military junta slaughtered 11 people, including children, in the Sagaing region.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in Burma that it was “afraid of the alarming escalation of serious human rights violations” and that it had a “unified and determined international response” to restore democracy in the country. I asked.
“In the last few weeks, we have received multiple reports that the village has been burned down, including protected buildings such as religious places of worship and residential buildings,” said OHCHR. statement..
In a recent military attack on the Kyimyindaing Township in Yangon on December 5, security forces struck a vehicle against unarmed protesters and fired live ammunition.
“These attacks are vicious, completely unacceptable, and ignore the common values of humankind. They are also far from isolated,” OHCHR said.
More than 1,300 people have been killed and more than 10,600 have been detained in Burma since the military seized power in February, according to human rights groups. “
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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