Activists in Myanmar splashed red paint and dye on roads and buildings to represent the blood of hundreds of people who were killed in protesting the army’s takeover on February 1.
The posting on Wednesday, the second day of the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, came as a military-run newspaper reported that at least 19 medics were charged with incitement to participate in the protests of civil disobedience.
Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with daily protests and various defiant campaigns, including worker strikes in many sectors. Activists canceled the usual festivities over the five-day New Year’s festival, announcing different challenge shows each day.
On Wednesday, residents of different cities across the country joined in what activists called a “bloody paint strike.”
Residents of #YangonInsein township sprayed red paint, symbolizing blood, in the streets to honor fallen anti-coup protesters and posted arrest posters for coup leaders on Wednesday, the first day of #Thingyan water festival, which welcomes the new year. pic.twitter.com/HfCNwnm9yU
– The Irrawaddy (Eng) (@IrrawaddyNews) April 14, 2021
In the main city of Yangon, protesters painted the sidewalks and signs outside government offices red and left a note in a suburb that read, “Dear UN, how are you? I hope you’re okay. As for Myanmar, we are dying.
A participant in the protest told AFP news agency that the purpose of the activity was to “remember the martyrs who died in the struggle for democracy.”
At least 714 people have died since Gen. Min Aung Hlaing deposed the government of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners, a watchdog group.
“We shouldn’t be happy during this festival time,” the protester said in Yangon. “We must feel sorrow for the bleeding martyrs and we must continue to wage this battle in any way we can.”
This Kawkareik Open News photo taken and published on April 14, 2021 shows protesters participating in a general strike protest against the military coup in Kawkareik, Karen State, eastern Myanmar. [Handout/ Kawkareik Open News via AFP]
In the second largest city of Mandalay, red paint was also strewn on the streets as protesters held signs saying: ‘Hope our military dictatorship fails’,’ reverse the era of fear ‘and’ the blood has not dried in the streets ”.
In some towns, people also marched with placards calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been held since the coup on various counts, including violating an act of official secrecy. . Her lawyers have denied the charges against her.
Bago, despite having suffered the greatest casualties in one place in a single day (at least 82 on April 9), continued his protests today (April 14), led by students and young people. The armed men of the putschist regime presented themselves but the demonstrators fled. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar# RevolutionaryThingyan pic.twitter.com/RA3uKRRkMM
– Myanmar now (@Myanmar_Now_Eng) April 14, 2021
There were no immediate reports of violence during Wednesday’s protests, but the Monywa Gazette did report two explosions in the central town of Monywa that injured one person.
There was no claim of responsibility.
Doctors on trial
The military, meanwhile, added dozens more to a list of 260 celebrities, doctors and ordinary citizens, and filed a complaint against 19 doctors for supporting and participating in the civil disobedience movement “with the aim of deteriorating the state administrative apparatus, ”according to the military newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar.
The Irrawaddy newspaper said the doctors came from government hospitals in Naypyidaw, Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing and Tanintharyi regions and Shan and Kachin states. They face up to three years in prison if found guilty.
The military crackdown has sparked widespread international condemnation and calls for restraint, with the United States and other Western countries imposing limited sanctions focused on Myanmar’s armed forces and their extended business interests.
This handout photo taken and released by Dawei Watch on April 14, 2021 shows protesters carrying pots filled with flowers and leaves from the Thingyan Festival during a protest against the military coup in Dawei. [Dawei Watch/ AFP]
Neighbors in Southeast Asia have also encouraged talks between the Burmese parties, but without progress.
US Ambassador to Myanmar Thomas Vajda said in a New Year’s message that he was aware that many people were sacrificing and suffering for their beliefs and convictions in these “very difficult times”.
“I am deeply impressed by your courage and commitment,” Vajda said. “Let me also reconfirm the commitment of my colleagues and I… to do all we can to support the people of Myanmar in your aspirations for genuine democracy, peace and freedom.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday it feared the military crackdown on protests could escalate into a civil conflict like the one seen in Syria.
“I fear that the situation in Myanmar is heading into a full-fledged conflict,” United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in a statement.
“There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011,” she warned, referring to the start of a war which, over the past decade, has killed hundreds of thousands and forced millions of people fleeing the Middle Eastern country.