Myanmar coup Police use water cannon as thousands strike
Police in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw have used water cannon on workers conducting a nationwide strike against a military coup.
Thousands are taking part in a third day of street protests, calling for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and for democracy to be restored.
State TV has warned protesters that action will be taken if they threaten public safety or the “rule of law”.
It comes a day after Myanmar saw its largest protest in more than a decade.
Last week the military seized power after claiming without evidence that an earlier election was fraudulent.
Police in Myanmar’s capital Nay Pyi Taw have used water cannon on workers conducting a nationwide strike against a military coup.
Thousands are taking part in a third day of street protests, calling for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and for democracy to be restored.
State TV has warned protesters that action will be taken if they threaten public safety or the “rule of law”.
It comes a day after Myanmar saw its largest protest in more than a decade.
Last week the military seized power after claiming without evidence that an earlier election was fraudulent.
A few injuries have been reported, but no violence.
However, a water cannon was activated in Nay Pyi Taw to disperse crowds. A video appears to show protesters rubbing their eyes and helping one another after being soaked.
Kyaw Zeyar Oo, who took the video, told the BBC that two vehicles had sprayed protesters with “no prior warning”, while “the crowd was peacefully protesting in front of [the police]”.
He added that by Monday afternoon, the situation was “totally calm” as crowds continued to gather, but the water-cannon vehicles were still present.
Over the weekend, the country saw its largest protests since the so-called Saffron Revolution in 2007, when thousands of monks rose up against the military regime.
