With Easter eggs against the military junta

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Easter eggs protest in Myanmar

Photo: Uncredited / dpa

The demonstrators in Myanmar are turning against the military rulers with increasingly creative means: On Easter Sunday, activists distributed Easter eggs in their neighborhoods, which were provided with political messages.

Protests took place again in several cities in the country, in which, according to eyewitnesses, people were again killed.

In the online services, users published photos of Easter eggs with the likeness of the deposed de facto Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi.

Eggs with labels like "Democracy" or "Save our people" were also distributed.

Since the military coup on February 1, the security forces in Myanmar have used great brutality against pro-democracy demonstrators.

In the city of Pyinmana near the capital Naypyidaw, security forces opened fire on the protesters on Sunday.

“A man in the crowd was hit and killed.

Another was also shot, ”a resident told the AFP news agency.

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Protesters in Yangon show the three-finger salute as a sign of resistance while holding Easter eggs

Photo: Mg Ny @ n / dpa

A 30-year-old protester was also shot dead in a small town in the northern state of Kachin, according to an eyewitness.

“They shot him on the side of the road.

He was injured and later died, ”the eyewitness reported.

Four protesters were killed in the cities of Bago and Monywa on Saturday.

The Myanmar human rights group AAPP put the number of demonstrators killed by police or soldiers since the protests began on Sunday at 564. At least 2,658 civilians are therefore in the custody of the authorities.

The Myanmar authorities also issued arrest warrants for 60 celebrities over the weekend, but most of them have gone into hiding.

Internationally, fear of civil war in the Southeast Asian country is growing due to the continued violence of the junta.

"The military drove Myanmar to the brink of disaster within a few weeks," said Federal Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) of the Funke media group.

"All actors" should now "increase the pressure on the regime so that it finally accepts the offers of talks from the partners in the Asean confederation," he demanded.

Nobody in the region could have an interest in "Myanmar sinking into civil war - not even those who are not interested in saving democracy."

In his Easter message in St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his support for the people in Myanmar, "who stand up for democracy and make their voice heard in peace."

French oil company Total does not want to stop gas production

As pressure mounts on companies to withdraw from Myanmar in protest at violence against peaceful protesters, French oil giant Total said it will not stop gas production in the country.

Managing director Patrick Pouyanne told the Journal du Dimanche that Total has an obligation to the people of Myanmar.

"Can a company like Total decide to shut down electrical supplies for millions of people - and thereby interrupt the operation of hospitals and companies?" Pouyanne asked.

He was "outraged" by the suppression of civil society in Myanmar, stressed the Total boss.

However, he is not prepared to act "to the detriment of our local employees" and the Myanmar population.

hej / AFP