Burma: army threatens protesters with reprisals, martial law in several cities

Martial law was declared Monday in several cities of Burma, the generals for the first time looming the threat of reprisals against the demonstrators, who took to the streets in the hundreds of thousands against the coup.

The commander-in-chief of the army, Min Aung Hlaing, spoke for the first time in the evening, again invoking

“electoral fraud”

during the legislative elections in November to justify his putsch.

To read also: Burma: the head of the army justifies his coup d'état by denouncing "electoral fraud"

"We are investigating the authorities responsible"

for these irregularities, he added on the army channel Myawaddy TV.

He pledged to

"hold free and fair elections"

at the end of the one-year state of emergency and promised a military regime

"different"

from previous ones.

Burma has lived under the yoke of the army for almost 50 years since its independence in 1948. The coup of February 1, with the overthrow of the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the arrest of the latter, ended to a brief democratic parenthesis of a decade.

The pressure is mounting.

Martial law has been decreed in particular in several districts of Rangoon, the economic capital, and Mandalay (center), the country's second city.

Demonstrations and gatherings of more than five people are prohibited and a curfew is in place from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. local time.

The army has also brandished the threat of reprisals against pro-democracy demonstrators, who are increasingly numerous in the streets.

"Actions must be taken ... against offenses that disturb, prevent and destroy the stability of the state," state

television reported.

Washington supports protesters

Police used water cannons in the capital Naypyidaw against demonstrators.

"We are on the side of the Burmese people and we support their right"

to

"demonstrate peacefully in favor of the democratically elected government

,

"

responded the US State Department, which condemned the restrictions on demonstrators.

The United States also said to have

"tried to get in touch with Aung San Suu Kyi"

but to have encountered an end of disallowance of the putschists.

The UK, the European Union and 19 other members of the UN Human Rights Council have for their part called for an emergency meeting, while Pope Francis urged Monday for

"rapid"

release

officials imprisoned.

But no concrete action by the international community has yet been taken against the generals, even though Washington and the Europeans continue to threaten sanctions.

The sling is growing in the country.

On Monday, several hundred thousand people, according to various estimates, gathered in Yangon.

"We are not going to work even if our wages will drop,"

declared Hnin Thazin, an employee in a clothing factory, responding to the call for a general strike issued by protesters.

Saffron robed monks, students and nurses joined the movement, waving red flags in the colors of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD).

"More afraid"

“We used to live in fear, but we had a democratic government for five years.

We are no longer afraid.

We will not let this happen, ”

said Kyaw Zin Tun, 29-year-old engineer.

Demonstrations were held in other cities, with many residents parading on their two-wheelers in a concert of horns.

This wind of protest is unprecedented in Burma since the popular uprising of 2007,

“the saffron revolution”

led by the monks and violently repressed by the army.

And the risk of repression is real.

"We all know what the army is capable of: massive atrocities, murders of civilians, enforced disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrests

,

"

said Tom Villarin of the group of parliamentarians of Asean (Association of nations of Southeast Asia) for human rights.

Since February 1, more than 150 people - deputies, local officials, activists - have been arrested and are still in detention, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners, based in Yangon.

Internet connections have been partially restored and mobile data restored.

But access to Facebook, a communication tool for millions of Burmese, remained disrupted.

The LND won overwhelmingly the legislative elections in November and international observers did not see any major problems during this election. In reality, the generals feared to see their influence diminish after the victory of Aung San Suu Kyi, who could have wanted to modify the Constitution very favorable to the military. Very recently criticized by the international community for her passivity in the Rohingya Muslim crisis, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, under house arrest for 15 years for her opposition to the junta, remains adored in her country. The former leader would be

"in good health"

, under house arrest in Naypyidaw, according to her party.