Features

Social media

Demonstration participants use internet services and try to get information and share the information of the situation.

Blocking internet connection

Authorities have repeatedly blocked internet connections to curb protests. Connections to services used by demonstrators to collect and share information, such as Twitter and Facebook, have become unstable.

Hacking

Myanmar hackers in favor of protests are trying to hack into state broadcasts, central banks, Myanmar military propaganda pages, etc. "for Myanmar's justice"

Timeline of Myanmar protests

February - Beginning of protests

On February 1, the 2021 Myanmar coup occurred, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the state counselor, was detained by the Myanmar Armed Forces. Internet communication was cut off, and telephone calls were cut off. The Armed Forces claimed that the election was fraudulent, issued a one-year "state of emergency," and appointed Vice President Myint Swe to act as president.

On February 7, large-scale protests were held in several cities. In Yangon, tens of thousands of people gathered in the area that was the center of the democratization movement in the past. About 2,000 people gathered near the University of Yangon, expressing their support for Aung San Suu Kyi and saying, "End the military dictatorship" and protested.

On February 9, thousands of people protested in the capital Naypyidaw, ignoring the ban on assembly. Large-scale protests were held for four days. Police used rubber bullets, water cannons, and tear gas. On this day, a woman got a serious head injury was taken to the hospital while attending the demonstration.

On February 16th, the railroad service between the two cities was suspended with slogans such as "Release our leaders immediately" and "Return the rights of citizens". In Yangon, monks marched with banners stating "against military dictatorship."

On February 16, spokesman Zaw Min Tun of the Armed Forces held the first press conference after the coup, criticizing the daily anti-military protests throughout Myanmar as "demonstrations are becoming aggressive and violent."

Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing (20 years old, female student), who was unconscious after being shot in the head during a protest demonstration on February 19th and 9th, was hospitalized. Died at a hospital in Naypyidaw. The woman's sister told reporters she "please participate in the protest until she wins the army," and she called for more participation in the protests.

On February 26, Myanmar's UN Ambassador to the United Nations, Kyaw Moe Tung, addressed the UN General Assembly meeting, saying, "We should use all means to take action against the Myanmar military."

March - Situation getting worse

On March 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar notified the United Nations of the dismissal of UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tung and the appointment of Chargé d'Affaires Ting Maung Nine. It is unclear which of the two is the legitimate UN ambassador. The US State Department has acknowledged that Kyaw Moe Tung is still the UN ambassador.

On March 3, security forces fired live ammunition at demonstrators in various parts of the country, including the largest cities of Yangon, Monywa, and Mandalay, killing at least 38 people on that day alone. Security forces allegedly fired live ammunition with almost no prior warning, and the 38 deaths included four children. More than 50 people have died since the coup on February 1.

Deputy Ambassador Tin Maung Nine, appointed by the Myanmar Foreign Ministry as UN Ambassador at the direction of the Armed Forces, announced his resignation on Facebook.

On March 6, about 30 Myanmar police officers and their families fled to India in the past few days.

On March 8, the Myanmar Armed Forces announced that it would revoke the licenses of five domestic media outlets (Midjima, Democratic Voice of Burma, Kitty Media, Myanmar Now, 7 Day News) that were actively reporting protests.

In response, one of the five revoked companies, Midjima, issued a statement saying, "We will continue to report in various ways and fight the army coup, not following the revocation of the license."

On March 9, members of the NLD, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, died after being detained by security officials in Yangon. The cause of death is unknown. He died on the night of March 6 after the NLD member was detained, making this the second NLD member to die.

On March 27, online media "Myanmar Now" reported that at least 114 people were killed in the shootings of security forces.

On the same day, 12 countries, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, said that the "Myanmar Armed Forces had cracked down on demonstrators. I blame you for using weapon to citizens"

April - Protests are still continuing

On April 9, the Myanmar Armed Forces announced a policy to hold a general election within two years. The "state of emergency" issued in February has a one-year deadline, and the current constitution allows the declaration to be extended up to two years, so the armed forces may extend the "state of emergency". It has been pointed out.

MYANMAR PROTESTS ARE STILL CONTINUING

WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT GOING ON NOW

The three finger sign and roses

Pro-democracy protestors offered roses to police and flashed a three-fingered salute, a sign of resistance borrowed from "The Hunger Games."

Three-fingered

The begging of three-fingered sign is 2014 Thai coup d'état. Thai activist Shirawiz Seritiwat who first used this sign explained where the three-fingered sign came from and the reason.

He explained that the anti-authoritarian sign used in the movie "The Hunger Games" resonated with the youth protesters. One of the reasons I felt that the anti-coup situation at the time was similar to the scene in the movie The Hunger Games where people pointed three fingers at (dictator) President Snow. 

The "protest sign" was also used in 2014 Hong Kong protests.

Then, in 2021, this three-finger symbol was used by Myanmar citizens.

According to the British Guardian, the three-finger sign was first used by healthcare professionals in Myanmar and later by young protesters.

Moreover, in a demonstration conducted by a Myanmar student, participants were seen sending roses to police officers.

By the way, the rose was also a symbol of Snow, the dictator of The Hunger Games, and was a meaningful appearance in the movie.