Myanmar police intervened on Saturday to prevent new protests. In the metropolis of Yangon, agents were ready in places where people often demonstrate against the coup.
They arrested protesters trying to rally there, witnesses say.
Demonstrators were able to form groups in some places in the big city. Police then fired tear gas and fired rubber bullets. Witnesses and local media report similar scenes in other cities, such as Mandalay and Dawei.
In Myanmar, demonstrations have been going on for weeks because the army has seized power. Demonstrators demand the release of the arrested head of government Aung San Suu Kyi. The military says fraud was committed in an election that was convincingly won by that Nobel laureate’s party last year.
The Myanmar envoy to the United Nations also turned against the military regime on Friday. UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun asked the international community to work to restore democracy in his country. He called the coup “illegal and unconstitutional” in a 10-minute speech before the UN General Assembly.
Kyaw Moe Tun made a protest gesture at the end of his speech by holding up three fingers. “The revolution must-win,” the diplomat insisted. He then received a compliment from his American colleague Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She expressed her appreciation for the “courageous” speech of the Myanmarese.
