Multitudes of anti-coup protestors swarmed the streets in all parts of Myanmar crippled by a massive general strike that closed down shops and factories. The CDM –Civil Disobedience Movement has named it the “22222 Spring Revolution “derived from the "Five Twos" in reference to Monday's date."22.2.2021.
This is the biggest protest in Myanmar since the military coup, the culmination of 16 days of protest since the February 1st coup, and indeed a historic day that will long be remembered.
The junta has attempted to stop protests by imposing bans on gatherings of more than five people and curfews in certain areas and cutting the internet at night. Live ammunition in Mandalay killing several demonstrators. They have also deployed troops to major cities, including members of elite counter-insurgency division the 33rd Light Infantry has been firing on crowds in Mandalay. In an ominous statement Sunday evening, the military junta said it could use lethal force against protesters if necessary.
The mass rallies were not just in the big towns but also right across the country including in Dawei, in Shan state's Taunggyi, in Ayeyarwady's Pathein, Kachin state's Myitkyina, and in one of the country's poorest regions, Chin, and in the Mawlamyine Township of Mon State.
In Mawlamyine (aka Moulmein) the protestors came from all strata Civil servants from education, health, Myanmar Railways, Myanmar Postal Services, lawyers, staff from private insurance services and medical companies, university students, Muslims, shop owners all backed the general strike.
The protestors chanted “We don’t accept military coup”, “End the dictatorship in Myanmar”, “Respect human rights”, “Stop the violence”, “Dictator Get out”, “Restore democracy”, “and Join the Civil
Disobedience Movement.
The police and soldiers carried out a crackdown on the peaceful protestors in Pyinmana Township close to Nay Pyi Taw with the use of forces. The police arrested more than 100 protestors. The reporters had to run away as the security forces tried to arrest him using forces, according to the reporters based in Nay Pyi Taw.
