BANGKOK, Dec 10: Opponents of Myanmar’s military regime staged a nationwide “silent strike” on Wednesday, urging people to stay indoors to signal their rejection of the December 28 elections, which critics say are designed to legitimize military rule following the 2021 coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government.
The General Strike Coordination Body, a leading non-violent resistance group, called on the public to remain inside homes or workplaces from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on International Human Rights Day. Similar silent strikes have been used repeatedly since the coup. Images on social media showed unusually empty streets in Yangon and other cities.
The protest came despite harsh new penalties for disrupting the election. Authorities have charged 10 well-known pro-democracy activists under a new election law carrying sentences of up to 10 years
The group staged a rare flash-mob protest on December 3 at a Mandalay market, distributing leaflets urging people to reject the election, abolish conscription, and demand the release of political prisoners.
The activists—including Tayzar San, Nan Lin, and Khant Wai Phyo—openly displayed their faces during the brief protest, which drew widespread attention in a city known for heavy security.
Tayzar San, who led Mandalay’s first anti-coup protest in 2021 and faces an arrest warrant, said the continued mobilization shows the public has not given up under military oppression.
Meanwhile, independent media reported that authorities warned shopkeepers they could be arrested if they closed in support of the silent strike. (AP)
