Protests and strikes in the country following the military coup expand and the junta finds it difficult to deal with public outrage
Batman demonstrates against military coup in Myanmar // Photo: AFP
Hundreds of thousands of protesters today took part in a nationwide protest in Myanmar (formerly Burma), demanding an end to the military junta's rule and the return of democratically elected civilian rule.
About 100,000 people gathered in the country's largest city, Yangon, blocking traffic and paralyzing several major intersections across the city.
For the first time since the protest broke out, dozens of policemen joined the protesters and defected from the government service.
In the largest city in the country, at least ten policemen will be detained, marching along with the protesters, and in the Kaya district, a whole unit of about 40 policemen defected next to the protesters and defended them from the military.
The police use water cannons, rubber bullets and sometimes live fire to disperse the protesters.
Bingon was documented as a police chief firing his personal pistol at a crowd of protesters.
One woman was fatally injured in demonstrations in the city.
Despite the violence directed at them, the protesters, most of them young, show creativity and come to demonstrations in disguise, carry signs in a humorous spirit and document everything on social media.
Alongside the demonstrations, the general civilian strike led by the National Democratic Party, from which the military seized power in a military coup earlier this month, is expanding.
The hospitals are only partially working and the striking flight inspectors have caused disruptions to flights to the country.
Sue, a resident of Yangon, tells Israel today that she fears bloodshed from military personnel, such as the one that occurred in 2007. "I call on the public to demonstrate without violence and to strike. We must not let tyrants rule our country," Sue said.
