Protests, Violence Mark Anniversary of Myanmar’s Military Takeover

 

A nationwide strike in Myanmar marked the one-year anniversary of the army's takeover of the government.

Protests and violence across the Southeast Asian nation have raised international concern over the struggle for power.

Images and video on social media showed that a "silent strike" was taking place Tuesday in Myanmar's largest city of Yangon and other towns. People stayed home and businesses shut their doors in a show of opposition¹ to military rule.

Violence was also reported. Myanmar, formerly² known as Burma, faces a rebellion that some United Nations experts are calling a civil war.

Local media said an explosion killed at least two people and injured many more. It happened at a pro-military demonstration³ in a town on the eastern border with Thailand. The cause of the explosion is not clear.

The military took over Myanmar's government on February 1, 2021. It ousted⁴ the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Her League for Democracy party was about to begin a second term in office. The party had won a large victory in the election of November 2020.

Widespread nonviolent demonstrations⁵ followed the army's takeover. But armed resistance arose after protesters were faced with deadly force. About 1,500 civilians⁶ have been killed. But the military government has been unable to stop the opposition.

The U.N. human rights agency says at least 11,787 people were illegally detained in the past year, including 8,792 who continue to be held.

The anniversary has gained international attention, especially from the United States and Western nations critical of the military takeover. The U.S., Britain and Canada on Monday placed new sanctions on the military. The U.S. also joined other countries calling for an international halt to arms sales to Myanmar.

Pro-democracy demonstrations were held in several towns and cities before the start of the nationwide strike on Tuesday. At that time, security forces are less likely to be out on the streets. Protesters carried signs and shouted anti-military slogans in Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing. State-operated media reported that many business owners, who had announced plans to close Tuesday, were arrested.

"We might be arrested and spend our life in jail if we're lucky. We might be tortured and killed if we're unlucky," said youth activist⁷ Nan Lin.

Opposition fighters also claimed to have carried out bombings Tuesday in 11 areas of Yangon. The bombings targeted a police station and homes of military officers, among other sites.

In Tachileik in eastern Myanmar, an explosion at a pro-government event killed two people and injured at least 37 others. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Early in the day, leaders of the opposing sides released speeches online to mark the anniversary of the army's takeover.

Duwa Lashi La is acting⁸ president of the opposition's National Unity⁹ Government (NUG). He said his group will carry on with the people's "revolution" against military rule. The NUG was created by elected lawmakers and considers itself the country's legitimate¹⁰ government.

General Min Aung Hlaing is leader of the military-ruled government. He promised in a speech to work toward a democratic system in Myanmar.

Myanmar's military said it took power because there was widespread cheating in the 2020 election. Independent election experts say they have seen no serious evidence for this claim.

Tom Andrews is the U.N. special diplomat¹¹ on the situation in Myanmar. He said the international community must take steps to limit the military's access to weapons and money.

Andrews added that Myanmar's military had carried out "mass killings¹², attacks on hospitals and humanitarian¹³ targets, and the bombing and burning of villages."

Words in This Story

sanctions – n.(pl.) actions taken to force a country to obey international law by limiting or stopping trade or cutting economic aid

slogan — n. a word or phrase that is easy to remember and is used by a group or business to attract attention

legitimate — adj. permitted under rules or laws

escalation¹⁴ — n. becoming worse or making (something) worse or more severe

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

4 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

5 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

9 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

10 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

11 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

12 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

13 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

14 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句