ASEAN IN FOCUS

Myanmar protesters gather after general strike call

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Anti-coup protesters gathered across Myanmar on Monday, answering a trade union call for a general strike following a weekend of night raids and arrests. The country has been in turmoil since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power and triggered mass protests against the new military junta. The police and military have responded with an increasingly brutal crackdown on demonstrators, with more than 50 people […]

UN says 38 dead in Myanmar’s ‘bloodiest’ day since coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — At least 38 people died Wednesday in the “bloodiest” day of Myanmar’s crisis, the United Nations said, as the military junta defied growing international condemnation of its coup with a violent crackdown that the US said left it “appalled and revulsed.” Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 1 when the military ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending the nation’s decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking […]

Six dead as Myanmar security forces fire at protesters

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — At least six people were killed as Myanmar security forces fired on pro-democracy protesters Wednesday, after the junta hit half a dozen detained journalists, including an Associated Press photographer, with criminal charges. The country has been in chaos since February 1 when the military launched a coup and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending Myanmar’s decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking daily mass protests. International pressure is mounting […]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with two new criminal charges as she appears via video in court

  NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges when she appeared in court via video link on Monday, a month after a military coup triggered relentless and massive protests. Suu Kyi has not been seen since being detained on February 1, and her appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of deadly force […]

Thai police fire rubber bullets at protesters outside PM’s residence

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai police shot rubber bullets and used water cannon and tear gas against pro-democracy protesters in Bangkok Sunday at a rally outside a military barracks housing the prime minister’s residence. A youth-led protest movement calling for the resignation of Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government had lost steam in recent months following a second wave of coronavirus infections in Thailand. But the recent detention of four prominent protest leaders on royal defamation charges has […]

Six shot dead on Myanmar crackdown’s bloodiest day

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar security forces shot dead at least six protesters Sunday in the bloodiest action so far to smother opposition to the military coup four weeks ago. The junta is battling to contain a massive street movement demanding it yield power and release ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with top political allies at the start of the month. Sunday brought a significant escalation in force, […]

Myanmar police fire rubber bullets on protesters as UN envoy breaks ranks

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon on Saturday, after the country’s ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional plea for action against the military junta. The country has been shaken by a wave of protests since a coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Authorities have ramped up the use of force to suppress dissent, deploying tear gas, […]

Two dead as Myanmar police open fire on protesters in deadliest day since coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Two people were killed in Myanmar’s second largest city as security forces fired live rounds on protestors, emergency workers and doctors said Saturday — the latest show of force from a junta regime that has faced two straight weeks of anti-coup demonstrations. Much of the country has been in uproar since the military deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with large street demonstrations seen in major […]

Six people shot with live rounds at Myanmar anti-coup protest

  MANDALAY, Myanmar (AFP) – A raid on a shipyard in Myanmar’s second-largest city turned violent Saturday when police and soldiers fired live rounds and rubber bullets at protesters gathering to stop arrests. At least five people were injured by rubber bullets, a photographer at the scene reported, while emergency medical staff treating the injured confirmed at least six others were shot with live rounds. Much of the country has been in uproar since the […]

Floods cripple Indonesia’s capital

  JAKARTA, Indonesia Whole neighbourhoods of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and dozens of major roads were flooded on Saturday after torrential rains pounded the Southeast Asian city overnight. More than 1,300 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters, with parts of the capital under four to nine feet (1.2 to 2.7 metres) of water. Images showed rescuers on rafts battling to evacuate the elderly and children from submerged houses in hard-hit southern and eastern areas of […]

US urges Myanmar junta to yield power after protester death

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Washington has urged the leaders of Myanmar’s new military regime to refrain from violence and relinquish power, after the death of a young anti-coup protester sparked new anger against the junta. Much of the country has been in uproar since troops deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with large street demonstrations in both urban centres and isolated villages. Security forces have responded with increasing force, deploying […]

First death hits Myanmar’s anti-coup movement as pressure swells against generals

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — A young protester died Friday, more than a week after being shot in anti-coup demonstrations in Myanmar, offering a fresh source of anger inside the country as international pressure grows on the generals who seized power. Much of the country has been in open revolt since troops deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, with disparate strands of Myanmar society uniting to protest against a return to […]