• Burmese
Saturday, May 17, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
24 °c
Ashburn
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Anti-Coup Demonstrations Reach Myanmar’s ‘Protest-Proof’ Capital

The Irrawaddy by The Irrawaddy
February 8, 2021
in Burma
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0 0
A A
Police use water cannons to disperse anti-coup protesters in Naypyitaw on Monday. / The Irrawaddy

Police use water cannons to disperse anti-coup protesters in Naypyitaw on Monday. / The Irrawaddy

9.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The anti-coup protests in Myanmar have spread to the nation’s capital, Naypyitaw—the fortress-like “Abode of Kings” that serves as home to the top Union government officials and the headquarters of the military. 

Protesters riding motorbikes took to the streets to show their disapproval of the military coup on Saturday and Sunday. They chanted slogans including “Down with the dictator!” “We want full democracy” and “Be in good health, Amay Suu!”, referring to detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Local residents lined the streets to cheer them on. Those demonstrations ended peacefully over the weekend, when the regime blocked the Internet and social media services until Sunday afternoon.

On Monday, however, the situation between anti-coup protesters and security forces grew tense at Thabyae Gone Market, where more than 5,000 people started gathering in the morning to stage a protest against military rule. Before noon, police used water cannons to disperse the protest, spraying the crowd in short bursts. Video from the scene showed some protesters who appeared to have been hurt after being knocked to the ground. 

RelatedPosts

Ousted Myanmar Envoy to UK Charged With Trespass in London Residence Row

Ousted Myanmar Envoy to UK Charged With Trespass in London Residence Row

May 15, 2025
2.9k
Breaking the 60-Year Political Cycle in Myanmar

Breaking the 60-Year Political Cycle in Myanmar

May 12, 2025
1.1k
Myanmar Junta Boss’s Moscow Visits Deepens Russia Ties

Myanmar Junta Boss’s Moscow Visits Deepens Russia Ties

May 9, 2025
745

But it did not keep them quiet. The protesters gathered again in the afternoon and repeated their demands in front of a heavy police presence. At various times police were heavily barricaded and lined up in rows in riot gear.

Myanmar citizens elsewhere turned out for nationwide protests on Monday to reject military rule, with many civil servants refusing to work.

Protesters continue a third day of mass rallies on Monday while police stand by in Naypyitaw. / The Irrawaddy

Meanwhile health-care workers at Naypyitaw’s 1,000-Bed Hospital continued their civil disobedience movement for a sixth day. 

Naypyidaw once again proved it is no longer the military’s stronghold, after a majority of its residents voted for the National League for Democracy in the 2015 and 2020 elections. 

The capital was built in secret and the generals relocated their regime to the city in 2006. 

The decision to move from Yangon to isolated Naypyitaw surprised many at home and abroad. Some asked whether the move was based on carefully considered military, political and economic factors, or whether it was a product of the whimsical superstitions of the country’s then leader, the astrologically minded Senior General Than Shwe.

Western diplomats and journalists have in the past speculated that junta leaders were worried about a possible seaborne invasion by a foreign power, notably the US, or another nationwide popular uprising such as the one that occurred in 1988, during which the War Office in Yangon was surrounded by thousands of demonstrators. The top generals monitored the unfolding demonstrations barricaded in an operations room behind fortified walls and guarded by machine guns.

If the rationale for moving Naypyitaw was to put it out of reach of demonstrators, Monday’s events demonstrate that the city is no longer a protest-proof capital. 

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar’s Military Re-Arrests Two Chief Ministers

US Ambassador Calls for Myanmar Military to Restore Power to Elected Government

Your Thoughts …
Tags: CoupGovernmentLawMilitaryPoliticsProtest
The Irrawaddy

The Irrawaddy

...

Similar Picks:

Myanmar Junta Arrests Thai Condo Buyers, Realtors as Currency Crashes
Business

Myanmar Junta Arrests Thai Condo Buyers, Realtors as Currency Crashes

by The Irrawaddy
June 4, 2024
27.6k

Monday’s arrests follow reports that Myanmar has become one of Thailand’s most lucrative markets for selling condos since the 2021...

Read moreDetails
China-Backed Illegal Rare Earth Mining Surging in Northern Myanmar
Burma

China-Backed Illegal Rare Earth Mining Surging in Northern Myanmar

by Yan Naing
July 15, 2022
34.7k

A Myanmar military-backed militia in Kachin State is protecting Chinese-run mines that produce coveted rare earth minerals used in hi-tech...

Read moreDetails
AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns
War Against the Junta

AA Urges Myanmar Junta Troops to Surrender as Western Command Burns

by The Irrawaddy
December 18, 2024
25.2k

Ethnic army reportedly poised to capture regime’s last stronghold in Rakhine State.

Read moreDetails
New Year Message From Myanmar: Dictator Shows he is Forever Falling Short
Analysis

New Year Message From Myanmar: Dictator Shows he is Forever Falling Short

by The Irrawaddy
January 3, 2024
24.9k

Min Aung Hlaing kept this year’s speech brief – just long enough to blame everyone for the disaster he created...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion
Burma

Myanmar General in Charge of Shan State Disaster Handed Surprise Promotion

by The Irrawaddy
February 5, 2024
24.3k

Naing Naing Oo elevated to Lieutenant-General and made chief of powerful Bureau of Special Operations No. 2, in a reshuffle...

Read moreDetails
Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats
Burma

Myanmar’s Chief of Eastern Command Purged After Karenni Defeats

by The Irrawaddy
January 12, 2024
20k

Major-General Hla Moe is reportedly the latest junta commander to pay the price for sweeping gains made by resistance forces. 

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Health-care workers from Naypyitaw’s 1,000-bed hospital strike for a sixth day on Monday. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy

Thousands More Civil Servants Join Movement Against Myanmar Military

Sean Turnell, an economic adviser to Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the public event in Yangon in 2018. / The Irrawaddy

Family of Suu Kyi’s Detained Economic Adviser Calls on Myanmar Military for Release

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Breaking the 60-Year Political Cycle in Myanmar

Breaking the 60-Year Political Cycle in Myanmar

5 days ago
1.1k
How Myanmar Junta Uses Air Force to Fight Its Corner

How Myanmar Junta Uses Air Force to Fight Its Corner

3 days ago
1.1k

Most Read

  • Ousted Myanmar Envoy to UK Charged With Trespass in London Residence Row

    Ousted Myanmar Envoy to UK Charged With Trespass in London Residence Row

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Three Japanese Firms Ditch Myanmar Port Project

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Workers at Adidas Factory in Myanmar Strike for Living Wage

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Leader Scores Diplomatic Win With Xi Meeting in Moscow

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Abandons Chinese Pipeline Amid Resistance Attacks

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.