Myanmar protests: Ousted speaker in hiding vows to continue ‘revolution’
Myanmar protests: Ousted speaker in hiding vows to continue ‘revolution’
In his first public address, Mahn Win Khaing Than said “this is the darkest moment of the nation and the moment that the dawn is close”.
From hiding, he leads a group of legislators who have refused to accept last month’s coup.
Protests continued on Sunday with at least five people killed.
Local media and a doctor quoted by AFP news agency reported a young man shot dead by security forces in the northern jade-producing city of Hpakant.
Another young man was killed in Bago, near the main city of Yangon, according to local reporters and witnesses.
Local media also reported three protesters killed in clashes in Yangon itself.
The latest casualties follow the deaths of 12 protesters on Saturday, according to BBC Burmese and eyewitnesses.
Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been gripped by street protests since the military seized control on 1 February and detained Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.
The NLD won a landslide victory in last year’s election, but the military said the poll was fraudulent.
NLD MPs who managed to escape arrest formed a new group, the CRPH, or Committee for Representing the Union Parliament.
Mahn Win Khaing Than was appointed acting head. The CRPH is seeking international recognition as Myanmar’s rightful government.
What did Mahn Win Khaing Than say?
In a speech on Facebook, Mahn Win Khaing Than said: “This is the time for our citizens to test their resistance against the dark moments.
“In order to form a federal democracy, which all ethnic brothers, who have been suffering various kinds of oppressions from the dictatorship for decades, really desired, this revolution is the chance for us to put our efforts together.
Despite our differences in the past, this is the time we must grip our hands together to end the dictatorship for good. “
The military considers the CRPH to be an illegal group, warning that anyone co-operating with them will face treason charges.
What’s the background?
Independent international observers have disputed the military’s claim of the fraudulent election held in November 2020, saying no irregularities were observed.
Last week, the military accused Ms Suu Kyi of illegally accepting $600,000 (£430,000) and 11kg of gold. No evidence was provided and an NLD lawmaker denied the allegation.
Ms Suu Kyi has been held for the past five weeks at an undisclosed location and faces several other charges including causing “fear and alarm”, illegally possessing radio equipment, and breaking Covid-19 restrictions.
Since the coup the military has used violent force to try to quell protests, leaving dozens dead and prompting widespread international condemnation.
The US has announced sanctions on coup leaders, while steps are also being taken to block access by the military to $1bn of government funds held in the US.
The military has dismissed criticism of its actions, instead blaming Ms Suu Kyi for the violence.