YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – As enthusiastic crowds of tens of thousands march through the streets of Myanmar’s largest city on Sunday to protest the coup of Aung San Suu Kyi last week, their spirits were lifted by the return of internet services one day. previously blocked.
Separate protests that started in different parts of Yangon gathered in Sule Pagoda, in the middle of a roundabout in the city center. Protesters sang “Long live Mother Suu” and “With military dictatorship”. Protesters in other parts of the country confirmed their calls.
Authorities reduced access to the Internet as protests escalated Saturday, fearing a complete blackout of information. On Sunday afternoon, however, Internet users in Yangon reported that access to data on their cell phones was suddenly restored.
The protesters are trying to withdraw the takeover by the army last Monday and are demanding the release of the detainee Suu Kyi, the country’s deposed leader, and other top figures from her National League for Democracy party.
The military has accused Suu Kyi’s government of failing to act on complaints that the November election was damaged by fraud.
The growing protests are a stark reminder of the long and bloody struggle for democracy in a country that ruled the military directly for more than five decades before weakening its grip in 2012. Suu Kyi’s government, which won a major election in 2015, was for the first time led by civilians in decades, although it came under a military draft in front of a number of curbs.
During Myanmar’s years of isolation under military rule, the Golden Dome Sule Pagoda served as a rallying point for political protests for democracy, especially during a massive uprising in 1988 and again during an uprising in 2007 led by Buddhist monks.
The military had earlier put an end to deadly forces to end both uprisings, with estimates of hundreds if not thousands killed in 1988. While riot police were dispatched last week to watch the protests, there were soldiers absent and there were no reports of clashes.
Several videos published online on Sunday are allegedly from the city of Myawaddy, on the eastern border of Myanmar with Thailand, and showed police firing into the air in a clear attempt to disperse a crowd. There were no signs of panic and no reports of injuries.
With little fear, the crowd of protesters has grown larger and braver over the past few days, while still being nonviolent in support of a call by Suu Kyi’s party and its allies for civil disobedience.
In one of Sunday’s rallies, at least 2,000 union and student activists and members of the public gathered at a large intersection near Yangon University. They marched along a highway and jerked around the traffic. Drivers honored their trumpet.
Police in riot blocked the main entrance to the university. Two water cannon trucks were parked nearby.
The mostly young protesters held placards calling for freedom for Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who were placed under house arrest and charged with minor offenses, which are considered by many to be a legitimate veneer for their detention.
“We just want to show this current generation how the older generation is fighting this crisis, by complying with Mother Suu’s guideline of being honest, transparent and peaceful,” said 46-year-old protester Htain Linn Aung. “We do not want a military dictator. Let the dictator fail. ”
Reports on social media and through some news services in Myanmar said that 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 car march in which hundreds participated, constantly beeping their horns.
On Saturday, the protest marches increased from hundreds to thousands, but the authorities also reduced the most access to the internet. Holes in the army’s firewall hid news, but also feared a complete blackout of information.
Social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter were previously ordered blocked, but have remained partially accessible. Social media platforms were important sources of independent news, as well as tools for protest action.
Netblocks, a London-based service that detects internet interruptions and shutdowns, confirmed that there was a partial recovery of its internet connection on Sunday, but noted that it may be temporary and that social media reminders are blocked.
The communications blockade was a strong reminder of the progress that Myanmar is in danger of losing. During Myanmar’s decades of military rule, the country was internationally isolated and communication with the outside world was strictly controlled.
The elected lawmakers of Suu Kyi’s party met in an online meeting on Friday to declare themselves the only legal representatives of the people and to demand international recognition as the country’s government.
Pope Francis has joined the international chorus of concern over the situation.
The pope said in public remarks on St. Peter’s Square on Sunday that he had followed the situation that developed in Myanmar with great concern, while noting his love for the country since his visit there in 2017.
He said he hoped the Myanmar leaders would work wholeheartedly “to promote social justice and national stability for a harmonious democratic existence.”