Myanmar began a nationwide general strike on Monday despite a curfew, road blockades and more overnight arrests.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered in cities and towns as businesses also shut their doors, despite the country’s military warning of further “loss of life” if people answered a call for a general strike opposing its February 1 coup.
At least two people were killed after violence over the weekend as thousands gathered on Sunday in Naypyidaw for the funeral of 20-year-old Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who was shot in the head at protests in the capital on February 9 and died from her injuries on Friday.
Monday’s rallies which local media called the biggest to date since the military takeover came as the United States warned it would “take firm action” against Myanmar’s generals if they continued to crack down on people calling for the restoration of the country’s elected government.
On Sunday night, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also condemned the violence.
Small groups began gathering in Yangon in defiance of a curfew and a statement broadcast on state television warning the protesters were “inciting the people” to a “confrontation path where they will suffer loss of life”.
