Military Rulers in Myanmar Ban Gatherings as Protests Continue
2021-02-09
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Myanmar's military rulers on Monday ordered a curfew and banned gatherings in the country's two largest cities.
2The move follows days of protests against the military overthrow of the government last week.
3The first government orders covered Yangon and Mandalay, but measures for other parts of the country were also expected.
4Gatherings of more than five people were banned, along with motorized processions.
5Curfews were set from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m.
6The military said the measures were ordered to stop unlawful actions.
7On Monday, police fired a water cannon at demonstrators in the capital, Naypyitaw.
8Protests were also reported Monday in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, as well as Mandalay and other places.
9The protesters are demanding that the military return power to the democratically elected government.
10"We do not want the military junta," said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon.
11"We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them."
12The military seized power on February 1, the day newly elected lawmakers were supposed to take their seats in Parliament.
13The generals said they acted because of wrongdoing in the November election.
14They accused the country's ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, of not investigating election wrongdoing.
15Myanmar's election commission has dismissed both claims.
16Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, or NLD, won the November elections easily, with the military-backed party receiving little support.
17The military declared a one-year state of emergency after it seized power.
18Suu Kyi has been restricted to her home since being removed from office.
19State media reported on the protests for the first time Monday and claimed the demonstrations were endangering the country's security.
20"Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline," said a Ministry of Information statement read on state television station MRTV.
21"We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law."
22The country's new military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, said in a televised speech that his government planned to hold new elections and hand over power to the winner.
23He added that the military was prepared to form a "true and disciplined democracy" that would be different from past periods of military rule.
24Myanmar's history includes a long and bloody struggle for democracy.
25On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Yangon's Sule Pagoda, the center of past public uprisings against military rule in 1988 and 2007.
26The military used deadly force against demonstrators to end both of those uprisings.
27Suu Kyi's party has asked for international recognition as the rightful representative of the people.
28The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners is a human rights organization based in neighboring Thailand.
29The group says that at least 165 people, mostly politicians, have been detained in Myanmar since last week's military overthrow.
30I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Myanmar's military rulers on Monday ordered a curfew and banned gatherings in the country's two largest cities. The move follows days of protests against the military overthrow of the government last week. 2The first government orders covered Yangon and Mandalay, but measures for other parts of the country were also expected. 3Gatherings of more than five people were banned, along with motorized processions. Curfews were set from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. The military said the measures were ordered to stop unlawful actions. 4On Monday, police fired a water cannon at demonstrators in the capital, Naypyitaw. Protests were also reported Monday in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, as well as Mandalay and other places. 5The protesters are demanding that the military return power to the democratically elected government. 6"We do not want the military junta," said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon. "We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them." 7The military seized power on February 1, the day newly elected lawmakers were supposed to take their seats in Parliament. The generals said they acted because of wrongdoing in the November election. They accused the country's ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, of not investigating election wrongdoing. Myanmar's election commission has dismissed both claims. 8Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy, or NLD, won the November elections easily, with the military-backed party receiving little support. 9The military declared a one-year state of emergency after it seized power. Suu Kyi has been restricted to her home since being removed from office. 10State media reported on the protests for the first time Monday and claimed the demonstrations were endangering the country's security. 11"Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline," said a Ministry of Information statement read on state television station MRTV. "We will have to take legal actions to prevent acts that are violating state stability, public safety and the rule of law." 12The country's new military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, said in a televised speech that his government planned to hold new elections and hand over power to the winner. He added that the military was prepared to form a "true and disciplined democracy" that would be different from past periods of military rule. 13Myanmar's history includes a long and bloody struggle for democracy. 14On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters gathered at Yangon's Sule Pagoda, the center of past public uprisings against military rule in 1988 and 2007. The military used deadly force against demonstrators to end both of those uprisings. 15Suu Kyi's party has asked for international recognition as the rightful representative of the people. 16The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners is a human rights organization based in neighboring Thailand. The group says that at least 165 people, mostly politicians, have been detained in Myanmar since last week's military overthrow. 17I'm Bryan Lynn. 18The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 19We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22procession - n. a line of people or vehicles that moves forward slowly as part of a ceremony or public event 23junta - n. a military government that has taken power in a country by force 24stability - n. the quality of not being likely to change or move 25discipline - n. the control of a person's behavior using rules and punishments