Myanmar coup: protests escalate into clashes as army mobilises

Twenty protesters injured when police use rubber bullets during serious confrontations

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  Protesters hold signs demanding the release of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon. AFP

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  Protesters take part in demonstration against the military coup in front of police station in Yangon. AFP

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  Riot police stand guard on a road during a demonstration against the military coup in in Yangon. AFP

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  Schoolteachers hold up posters during a sit-down demonstration against the February 1 military coup in Yangon. AFP

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  A protester sits in front a graffiti during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon. AFP

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  Myanmar police fire water cannon at protesters as they continue to demonstrate against the February 1 military coup in the capital Naypyidaw. AFP

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  Myanmar police fire water cannon at protesters as they continue to demonstrate against the February 1 military coup in the capital Naypyidaw. AFP

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  Myanmar police fire water cannon at protesters as they continue to demonstrate against the February 1 military coup in the capital Naypyidaw. AFP

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  An injured protester is helped by his fellow protesters, at a rally against the military coup and to demand the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Reuters

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  Protesters flash the three-fingered salute, a symbol of resistance, during a protest in Mandalay, Myanmar. AP

Anti-coup protesters returned to the streets of Myanmar's largest cities on Wednesday, preparing to face off against increasingly hostile security forces using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon to push back demonstrators.

Live broadcasts showed civil servants from various ministries in the capital Naypyidaw gathered near the city's Central Market, chanting "Don't go to the office", defying military chief Min Aung Hlaing's warning to government workers not to engage in politics.

At least one protester, a 20-year-old computer science student, is in critical condition in Naypyidaw after police actions on Tuesday.

In the commercial centre of Yangon, demonstrators began gathering in front of the UN offices and the Japanese embassy, many of them sitting in small rubber pools in a statement against the police’s use of water cannon against protesters on Tuesday.

It s the fifth day of street protests that have been building since the military took power in a coup. The youth-led movement uses social media to mobilise supporters with three main demands: the release of civilian leaders including Aung San Suu Kyi; recognition of the 2020 election results won by her party; and a withdrawal of the military from politics.

Therein Win, a protester in Mandalay, said as many as 100,000 may join the demonstrations on Wednesday, including monks from the city’s biggest monastery, students, teachers and workers.

Peaceful Demonstrations

“The military junta is trying to portray peaceful demonstrators as instigators on state media,” Thurein Win said. “So, we’ll make sure to avoid confrontations in all our protests today.”

At least 20 protesters were injured after police used rubber bullets in Naypyidaw during the most serious clashes on Tuesday, according to a network of medics supporting the protests.

In the northern city of Mandalay, witnesses said security forces used tear gas and water cannon and detained 36 people. Four police officers were injured, according to the office of the commander-in-chief of Defence Services.

Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy denounced the police actions against demonstrators.

"The NLD strongly condemn the crackdowns ... they are acts of violence on barehanded people by armed forces," the party said on Wednesday. "We urge authorities concerned to act immediately not to [instigate] such kind of violence again."

On Monday, Min Aung Hlaing defended the military takeover of the government by repeating claims of voter fraud in November's election, claims disputed by the election commission, international observers and Ms Suu Kyi's party. He also reiterated that the army would hold an election after the year-long state of emergency and respect the outcome.