Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Demonstrations Resume in Myanmar Against Military Junta Despite Curfews and
Restrictions

VOA News

   Demonstrators gathered in the streets of Myanmar's capital again
   Tuesday for a fourth consecutive day, defying a set of restrictions
   imposed by the military junta aimed at stopping the massive protests
   against the overthrow of the elected civilian government.'¯

   Tuesday's protests inNaypyitawoccurred just hours after the military
   announced an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew would be imposed in the cities of
   Yangon and Mandalay. The regime has also banned gatherings of more than
   four people across the country.

   Demonstrations were also staged in Yangon and Mandalay. News agencies
   say the protesters were blasted with watercannonin all three cities.

   Tens of thousands of people have come out in force across Myanmar since
   the demonstrations began, holding signs reading "Save Myanmar," "We
   want democracy," as well as photographs of Aung San Suu Kyi, the de
   facto leader of the deposed government. Protesters also raised a
   three-finger salute as they marched, a sign of resistance against
   tyranny in the popular "Hunger Games" movies.

   The demonstrations entered a new phase Monday as civil servants,
   railway employees, teachers and workers in other sectors began a
   nationwide strike.

   But Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the general who led the coup, made
   no mention of the unrest in his address to the nation Monday evening,
   his first since taking power exactly one week earlier.

   The general reiterated claims that last November's elections,
   overwhelmingly won by'¯Suu Kyi's'¯National League for Democracy party,
   were fraudulent. But he promised to hold new elections to bring a "true
   and disciplined democracy" different from previous eras of military
   rule.

   He did not specify when the new elections would take place. The
   military has declared a one year state of emergency.

.