APTOPIX_Myanmar_52461 Medical students wearing face masks hold placards as they gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. CDM stands for "civil disobedience movement." (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_40358 Medical students wearing face masks hold placards as they gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. CDM stands for "civil disobedience movement." (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_57599 Anti-coup protesters holding posters of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi march outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_71847 Medical students gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_68965 Medical students wearing face masks hold placards as they gather during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. CDM stands for "civil disobedience movement." (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_87157 Anti-coup protesters hold a banner that reads, “Karen National Group! Don’t want military dictatorship,” during a silents protest outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_33368 Anti-coup protesters holding placards gather outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Riot police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photos)
AP Photos
Myanmar_44591 The casket containing the body of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine being carried through the crowds towards the cemetery in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The woman was shot on Feb. 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in the capital Nayptitaw, and died Friday. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_08932 A hearse containing casket of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine travels to the cemetery in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_86948 The casket containing the body of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine is carried through the crowds towards the cemetery in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_00643 Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, lies in a coffin during her funeral in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The woman was shot on Feb. 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in the capital Nayptitaw, and died Friday. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_47152 Supporters give the three-finger salute during Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing's funeral, in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_11056 Students from the University of Medicine protest demonstrating by holding the brunches of Eugenia which is in the belief that the uprising is going to have succeeded, during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_33628 Protesters hold images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_03915 Students from the University of Medicine protest demonstrating by holding the brunches of Eugenia which is in the belief that the uprising is going to have succeeded, during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_11807 Protesters hold up placard with images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
APTOPIX_Myanmar_44100 Protesters shout slogans and display images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead at least a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_57382 Protesters gather in front of three-fingered salute graffiti during an anti-coup protest in Sanchaung township, outskirt of Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_79015 Protesters march with a giant banner with images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_07207 Students from the University of Medicine protest with brunches of Eugenia plants during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_62153 Relatives of crys as the casket containing the body of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine being bringing through the crowds towards the cemetery in Naypyitaw Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_68123 In this image taken from MRTV video, part of a public announcement from the State Administration Council warning against the general strike planned Feb. 22 appears on screen in English text during the MRTV evening news bulletin that aired late Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 in Myanmar. A call for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s Feb. 1 seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes. (MRTV video via AP)
MRTV video via AP
Myanmar_08080 Protesters hold placards with images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest outside the Hledan Centre in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_77264 The casket containing the body of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine is carried through the crowds towards the cemetery in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was the first confirmed death among the many thousands who have taken to the streets to protest the Feb. 1 coup that toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_49810 Protesters march with a giant banner with images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
Myanmar_64520 Protesters sit next to a giant banner with images of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup protest in Mandalay, Myanmar, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. Police in Myanmar shot dead a few anti-coup protesters and injured several others on Saturday, as security forces increased pressure on popular revolt against the military takeover. (AP Photo)
AP Photo
APTOPIX_South_Korea_Myanmar_36826 Youths from Asian countries participate during a press conference supporting Myanmar's democracy outside of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A call for a Monday general strike by demonstrators in Myanmar protesting the military’s seizure of power has been met by the ruling junta with a thinly veiled threat to use lethal force, raising the possibility of major clashes.
The call for a general strike was made Sunday by the Civil Disobedience Movement, a loosely organized group leading resistance to the army’s Feb. 1 takeover. It asked people to gather together for the Five Twos — referring to the digits in Monday’s date — to make a “Spring Revolution.”
State television broadcaster MRTV late Sunday carried a public announcement from the junta, formally called the State Administration Council, warning against the general strike.
“It is found that the protesters have raised their incitement towards riot and anarchy mob on the day of 22 February. Protesters are now inciting the people, especially emotional teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life,” it said in an English language text shown onscreen. The spoken announcement in Burmese said the same thing.
Another part of the statement blamed protesters whose numbers allegedly included criminal gangs for violence at demonstrations, with the result that “the security force members had to fire back.” Three protesters have been shot dead so far.
The protest movement has embraced nonviolence and only occasionally gotten into shoving matches with police and thrown bottles at them when provoked.
In Yangon, the country’s biggest city, trucks cruised the streets Sunday night blaring announcements that people should not attend protests Monday and must honor a ban on gatherings of five or more people. The ban was issued shortly after the coup but not enforced in Yangon, which for the past two weeks has been the scene of large daily demonstrations.
Many social media postings ahead of the scheduled nightly 1 a.m. cutoff of internet access service said security forces had set up roadblocks at strategic points in the city, including bridges and on streets leading to foreign embassies. Information on Twitter accounts that have proven reliable in the past said internet blocking, usually lasting until 9 a.m., would be extended to noon in Yangon.
The ominous signs of potential conflict drew attention outside Myanmar, with the U.S. reiterating that it stood with the people of Myanmar.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter the U.S. would take firm action “against those who perpetrate violence against the people of Burma as they demand the restoration of their democratically elected government.”
“We call on the military to stop violence, release all those unjustly detained, cease attacks on journalists and activists, and respect the will of the people,” spokesman Ned Price said on Twitter.
Earlier Sunday, crowds in Myanmar’s capital attended a funeral for the young woman who was the first person confirmed to have been killed in the protests, while demonstrators also mourned two other protesters who were shot dead on Saturday.
Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was shot in the head by police on Feb. 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in Naypyitaw, and died Friday.
Mourners lined the entrance to a cemetery in the city as the hearse carrying her body arrived and was taken to a crematorium where more people had gathered. They silently raised their hands in three-fingered salutes — a sign of defiance and resistance adopted from neighboring Thailand — as the black and gold vehicle rolled slowly past.
Inside the crematorium hall, the lid on Mya Thwet Thwet Khine’s coffin was partially removed to allow a last glimpse of her head resting on a bed of red and white roses before she was cremated. Members of the crowd outside chanted “Our uprising must succeed!”
Protests against the coup and the ousting of the nation’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, occurred elsewhere around the country Sunday.
Demonstrators turned out in force in Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, where security forces shot dead two people on Saturday near a dockyard where the authorities had been trying to force workers to load a boat. The workers, like railway workers and truckers and many civil servants, have joined the civil disobedience campaign against the junta.
The shooting broke out after neighborhood residents rushed to the Yadanabon dock to try to assist the workers in their resistance. One of the victims, described as a teenage boy, was shot in the head and died immediately, while another was shot in the chest and died en route to a hospital.
The authorities have continued arrests that began on the day of the coup, when Suu Kyi and members of the government were detained. According to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 640 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced, with 593, including Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, still in detention.
The junta prevented Parliament from convening Feb. 1, claiming the elections last November, won by Suu Kyi’s party in a landslide, were tainted by fraud. The election commission that affirmed the victory has since been replaced by the junta, which says a new election will be held in a year’s time.
The coup was a major setback to Myanmar’s transition to democracy after 50 years of army rule that began with a 1962 coup. Suu Kyi came to power after her party won a 2015 election, but the generals retained substantial power under the constitution, which had been adopted under a military regime.
