Western nations pile pressure on Myanmar junta as protests continue

A general strike shut businesses in the Southeast Asian country as huge crowds gathered peacefully despite warnings

Protesters sitting next to signs to boycott Myanmar military-linked business, display pictures of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Yangon, Myanmar on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021. AP

The EU warned it is considering sanctions on Myanmar while the US penalised two more generals for links to the military coup, as western countries sought to press the junta to avoid a violent crackdown after weeks of protests.

A general strike shut businesses in the southeast Asian country on Monday as huge crowds gathered peacefully despite a warning from authorities that confrontation could get people killed.

UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews said millions had marched in a "breathtaking" turnout, despite the junta's threat.

"The generals are losing their power to intimidate and with it, their power. It is past time for them to stand down, as the people of Myanmar stand up," Mr Andrews said on Twitter.

More protests are planned for Tuesday.

Overnight, EU governments showed support for those seeking to reverse the February 1 coup and the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"We are not prepared to stand by and watch," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in Brussels.

Sanctions could follow if diplomacy failed, he said.

The EU is considering sanctions that would target businesses owned by the army, but the bloc ruled out any curtailing of its trade preferences to avoid hurting poor workers.

Myanmar's security forces have shown more restraint since the coup than in earlier confrontations with those pushing for democracy in almost half a century of direct military rule.

Even so, three protesters have been killed – two shot dead in the second city of Mandalay on Saturday, and a woman who died on Friday after being shot more than a week earlier in the capital, Naypyidaw.

The army has said one policeman died of injuries sustained during the protests. It has accused protesters of provoking violence.

Late on Sunday, state-owned media MRTV warned that confrontation could cost lives.

Military-run Myawaddy News reported that junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing had said the military was following a democratic path and, referring to rubber bullets, that it wanted to use minimal force.

The army seized power after alleging fraud in November 8 elections in which Ms Suu Kyi's party trounced a pro-military party, detaining her and much of the party leadership. The electoral commission dismissed the fraud complaints.

In Naypyidaw, where the military is headquartered, police with a water cannon truck and a fleet of other vehicles broke up a procession of chanting protesters on Monday.

Videos showed protesters being chased and manhandled by security forces and a rights group said dozens had reportedly been detained there.

Overall, 684 people had been arrested, charged or sentenced since the coup, the group said.

The US on Monday imposed sanctions on two members of the junta – Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun and General Maung Maung Kyaw – and warned it could take more action.

The administration of President Joe Biden has previously imposed sanctions on the acting president of Myanmar and several military officers, as well as three companies in the jade and gems sector.

"The military must reverse its actions and urgently restore the democratically elected government," the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control said.

Britain, Germany and Japan have also condemned the violence in Myanmar and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the military to stop repression.

Myanmar has denounced interference in its affairs.

Indonesia is pushing Southeast Asian neighbours to agree on a plan that would keep the junta to its promise of holding elections, with monitors to ensure they are fair and inclusive, three sources familiar with the proposal said.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has been rallying support among Association of South East Asian Nations members for a special meeting on the crisis.

But the plan from the biggest regional nation would fall short of protester demands for the immediate release of Ms Suu Kyi and recognition of the November election result.

"This is complete denial of the will of Myanmar people. Have they not seen enough of the protests?" said one Twitter user identified as Zaw Min.

Social media users said a protest was planned in front of Indonesia's embassy in Myanmar on Tuesday.