(5 Feb 2021) Defying the possibility of arrest and reprisals from Myanmar's new military rulers, protesters against this week's coup became bolder on Friday, openly holding demonstrations rejecting the takeover and calling for the release of the country's ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
In the main city, Yangon, an estimated 200 teachers and professors held signs supporting civil disobedience and flashed the three-fingered salute, signifying resistance, that has become popular with anti-government protesters in neighbouring Thailand.
At the same time, nearby, a small number of staff from a university hospital held their own demonstration.
They held signs saying "Protect Democracy" and "Reject the military coup".
With the military authorities warning people against dissent, protesters have largely shown their anger so far through banging pots and pans together under cover of darkness, reducing the risk of identification and arrest.
There were also demonstrations in the capital Naypyitaw on Friday, with medical staff staging a march.
Monday's coup came as lawmakers had gathered in the capital for the opening of a new parliamentary session.
The military said the seizure was necessary because the government had not acted on the military's unsubstantiated claims of fraud in November's election, in which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won a substantial majority of seats.
It claimed the takeover was legal under the constitution.
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