Myanmar coup: Armored vehicles on the streets as internet cut off

Armored vehicles have begun appearing on the streets of several cities in Myanmar and protesters in small groups have also started gathering.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters are demanding democracy to be restored. They are also demanding that their elected leaders should be released from detention.

However, the military announced that leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be detained for a further two days.

According to the international news agency, a shooting was heard in the city of Myitkyina, in Kachin state as security forces clashed with anti-coup demonstrators. Five journalists were among those arrested.

Armored vehicles were seen on the streets for the first time since the coup in Yangon. Monks and engineers conducted a rally there, motorcyclists roamed at the streets of the capital Nay Pyi Taw.

A doctor at a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw told the international news agency that the security forces were carrying out night-time raids on homes.

“I’m still worrying because they make a curfew statement just not to go outside between 20:00 and 04:00, but this makes a time for the police and soldiers to arrest people like us,” said the doctor, who cannot be named for safety reasons.

“The previous day they stole into the house, cut down the fence, entered, and arrested people unlawfully. That’s why I’m also worrying.”

There are indications of military movements in Yangon and the possibility of telecommunications interruptions overnight between 1:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. U.S. citizens in Burma are advised to shelter-in-place during the 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. curfew hours.

— American Citizen Services – Burma (Myanmar) (@ACSRangoon) February 14, 2021