Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Myanmar protesters burn army uniform five months after coup

Demonstrators burn a flag and a uniform during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar July 1, 2021, in this screen grab taken from a video obtained by Reuters.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Myanmar's biggest city Yangon on Thursday, setting fire to an army uniform and chanting calls for democracy five months after a military coup ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The protest was one of the biggest in Yangon in recent weeks, although demonstrations against the army take place daily in many parts of the Southeast Asian country.

"What do we want? Democracy! Democracy!" protesters chanted as they ran through the streets with colourful smoke flares.

Demonstrators march on a street during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar July 1, 2021, in this screen grab taken from a video obtained by Reuters.

"For the people! For the people," they shouted, according to video published by Reuters.

They set an army uniform ablaze before dispersing.

Reuters was not immediately able to reach a military spokesman for comment.

Demonstrators burn a flag and a uniform during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar July 1, 2021, in this screen grab taken from a video obtained by Reuters.

Myanmar's army has struggled to impose its authority since taking power on Feb. 1. It has faced protests, strikes that have paralysed public and private sectors and a resurgence of conflicts in the borderlands.

The military authorities have branded their opponents terrorists. On Wednesday it freed more than 2,000 prisoners, most them detained since the coup.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group says more than 6,400 people have been arrested since the coup. It puts the death toll at more than 880, a number the military says is exaggerated.

Demonstrators march on a street during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar July 1, 2021, in this screen grab taken from a video obtained by Reuters.

The army says its takeover was in line with the constitution. It took power alleging fraud in a November election swept by Suu Kyi's party. The former electoral commission had dismissed its accusations.

(Reporting by Reuters staff; Editing by Matthew Tostevin and Pravin Char)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.