(ANSA) - BANGKOK, 03 JUL - In several cities of Burma, anti-coup protesters today celebrated the birthday of junta leader Min Aung Hlaing by burning his portrait and setting up his mock funeral.
The nation has experienced mass protests and a brutal military response since the February 1 coup that ousted leader Aung San SuuKyi.
According to a local monitoring group, nearly 890 civilians died in a crackdown by the State Administration Council - as the junta calls itself - and nearly 6,500 were arrested.
Protesters posted pictures on social media today of a traditional noodle soup dish called Mohinga, which is often served at funerals in Myanmar. "Hofatto (Mohinga) on his birthday because I want him to die soon," said a Yangon resident. "Many innocent people have lost their lives because of him. So if he died, the whole country would be happy."
In Mandalay, the country's second largest city, activists burned photos of the junta leader and set fire to fake coffins during a mock funeral.
Min Aung Hlaing turns 65 on Saturday, the age at which he would have been subject to compulsory retirement while at the head of the armed forces, as required by the 2008 country's Constitution (ANSA).
