Some estimates put the number of protesters in Yangon at 100,000, AFP reports.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Yangon, Burma’s largest city, on July 7 to protest the coup and demand the release of substantive leader Ung San Suu Kyi, the BBC reported, the largest demonstration in Burma since thousands of Buddhist monks demonstrated against the military government’s “Saffron Revolution” in 2007. AFP reports that some estimate the number of protesters in Yangon at 100,000, with demonstrations in more than a dozen other towns and even villages.
AFP reported that protesters in Yangon wore red tops symbolizing Ung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy, and carried red balloons, chanting the slogan “We don’t want military dictatorship, we want democracy” while holding up banners that read “Justice for Burma. Many made the three-finger gesture inspired by the movie “The Hunger Games,” which became a symbol of resistance during last year’s pro-democracy demonstrations in Thailand. Cars and buses passing by the demonstrations honked their horns in encouragement, and passengers on board carried pictures of Ung San Suu Kyi to help.
The junta cut off the network as the crowd began to assemble on the 6th, but missed its mark. The crowds held cloth strips reading “Respect the votes we cast. The NLD won a landslide victory in last November’s parliamentary elections.
The Yangon crowd marched from various locations to meet at the Sule Pagoda in the city center, which was also the meeting point for the Saffron Revolution. Police cars and riot police stood guard near Yangon University.
I totally despise this military coup, and I’m not afraid of the crackdown,” said Zypcho, a 20-year-old university student. I will come and join every day until Mama Su (Onsan Suu Kyi) is free.
We will fight to the end,” said Yecho, an 18-year-old economics student. If we put an end to the military dictatorship, the next generation will be able to enjoy democracy,” he said.
Smaller protests also took place in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw and the second largest city of Wa. Live Facebook video showed gunshots as Burmese police dispersed anti-coup protesters in the southeastern town of Miwadi, with uniformed police officers carrying guns rushing toward about 200 demonstrators. Shots could be heard, but it was not clear what kind of ammunition was used. Photos showed several protesters injured, seemingly by rubber bullets. Gunshots were also heard in the fourth largest city of Mawtan Meanchey, but no one was injured.
NetBlocks, an organization that tracks the state of the internet, reported that Myanmar’s internet was partially restored on the 7th, with connections restored to the usual level of 50% from 2pm local Time, but Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites were still blocked.
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