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Myanmar protesters defy curfew as media outlets ordered to shut

Students and other civilians took part in one of many daily protests across the country against the military’s seizure of power last month.

2.58495250 PA Images PA Images

DEMONSTRATORS IN MYANMAR’S biggest city came out on Monday night for their first mass protests in defiance of an 8pm curfew, backing about 200 students trapped by security forces in a small area of one neighbourhood.

The students and other civilians earlier took part in one of many daily protests across the country against the military’s seizure of power last month that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military government also placed a major curb on media coverage of the crisis, announcing that the licences of five local media outlets — Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News — had been cancelled.

“These media companies are no longer allowed to broadcast or write or give information by using any kind of media platform or using any media technology,” it said on state broadcaster MRTV.

All five had been offering extensive coverage of the protests, often with live steaming video online. The offices of Myanmar Now were raided by the authorities on Monday before the measure was announced.

2.58495621 Protesters flee as riot police fire tear gas in Yangon.

The government has detained dozens of journalists since the coup, including a Myanmar Now reporter and Thein Zaw of the Associated Press, both of whom have been charged under a public order law that carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

The night’s street protests began after police cordoned off part of Yangon’s Sanchaung neighbourhood and were believed to be conducting door-to-door searches for those who fled attacks by security forces to seek shelter in the homes of sympathetic strangers.

News of their plight spread quickly on social media, and people poured into the streets in neighbourhoods all over the city to show solidarity and in hopes of drawing some of the pressure off the hunted protesters. On some streets, they constructed makeshift barricades with whatever was at hand.

In the Insein district, they spread across road junctions, singing songs, chanting pro-democracy slogans and banging objects together.

The diplomatic missions of the US, Britain, Canada and the European Union issued statements urging the security forces to allow the trapped people to return safely to their homes.

Although all have been sharply critical of the February 1 coup and police violence, it is unusual for such diplomatic statements to be issued in connection with a specific, ongoing incident.

2.58494512 Anti-coup protesters flash a three-fingered sign of resistance in Naypyitaw.

By midnight Myanmar time, there had been no reports of clashes between police and protesters, although security forces chased crowds, harassed residents watching from windows, and fired stun grenades. They also were some reports of injuries from rubber bullets.

The night-time hours have become increasingly dangerous in Myanmar. Police and army units routinely range through neighbourhoods, shooting randomly to intimidate residents and disrupt their sleep, and making targeted arrests.

Security forces shot and killed two people in northern Myanmar during the day, local media reported.

The Irrawaddy online newspaper said the victims were shot in the head during anti-coup protests in Myitkyina in Kachin state. Graphic video on social media showed protesters backing away from tear gas, responding with rocks and then fleeing after a fusillade of what seemed to be automatic gunfire.

Demonstrators hurriedly carried away the injured, including one apparent fatality, a person with a severe head wound. A second body was seen later on a stretcher, his head covered with a cloth.

Another shooting death took place in Pyapon, a city about 75 miles south of Yangon.

To date, the government’s crackdown has left more than 50 protesters dead.

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    Mute Jon Mackey
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:18 AM

    Says quite a lot about the Irish electorate and their short term memory

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    Mute Vladimir Vasyectomy
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:09 AM

    ” back at the top table.” = ” back at the trough.”

    192
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    Mute hw007
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:18 AM

    I reckon Fianna Fáil will break all promise s again !

    106
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    Mute Liz Finn
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:23 AM

    Well they’ve done just that at least twice before so I reckon it’s a safe bet hwoo7.

    62
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    Mute Daz
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:38 AM

    THE GOOD TIMES ARE BACK BABY. WHAT COULD GO WRONG

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    Mute Mick Hannigan
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:46 AM

    If you always do what you have always done you will always get what you always had and that’s what we have done, voted back in idiots who helped cause all our problems in the first place, I call them idiots more like we the people are idiots

    83
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    Mute Pauline Long
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    Mar 6th 2016, 12:23 AM

    Yes ” madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result?s” Einstein

    3
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    Mute Les Behan
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:27 AM

    This election proved something I have been saying for years now : “The Irish electorate are a bunch of fickle mush heads.”

    60
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Mar 5th 2016, 10:58 AM

    I wish I could give you one thousand green thumbs. It is the ELECTORATE that puts these greedy pigs in power. We ALONE are responsible for the state of the country. We resent any kind of taxation in spite of the fact that it is how we provide infrastructure. We just cannot let go of the “oppressive taxation” memories.

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    Mute Iúrach
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:20 AM

    Do they each get their own gravy boat?

    53
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    Mute Jimmy jones
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:46 AM

    Michael Martin is the main player and he was a Bertie underling.

    How come nobody mentions the developer Owen O Callaghan any more and how his “donation” ended up in Micheal Martin’s wife’s bank account ?

    http://www.broadsheet.ie/2011/02/11/so-why-did-that-money-end-up-in-your-wifes-account-mr-martin/

    46
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    Mute john kinsella
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    Mar 5th 2016, 10:33 AM

    I wonder what Owen O’ Callaghan would call a water company if one just in his lap?

    13
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    Mute Rowan Murphy
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:09 AM

    Posed as an innocuous article. Teeing up the shot and walking away.

    44
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    Mute John Ward
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:20 AM

    It seems that the IQ of our “cute hoor” professional politicians is significantly higher than the bulk of the electorate. The average here is 92. Just think what kind of vegetables actually have a vote!

    41
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    Mute tomas o beag
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:33 AM

    Smug f***kers people have very short memories

    35
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    Mute Cally
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:41 AM

    Maybe its just me but the worst result was ryan getting back in…already he was on primetime…supporting water charges…they cant help themselves with trying to tax people..the greens…no chance of saving our planet but boy can they tax you…

    23
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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:15 AM

    But they (FF) did a great job in Government for themselves…they lined their own pockets with as much of the countrys money as they could grab before going out of office and told the rest of us to grin and bear it when the countrys cupboard was bare…obviously they have got the scent of money again now that the recovery is underway.

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    Mute Tommy Berry
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:31 PM

    No, the cupboard wasn’t bare , the Bert was inside it.

    9
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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:05 AM

    The Foxes are back in the henhouse…financial blood will be spilled and lost again and we the electorate will live to regret the result of the 2016 election should FF form a government or even hold a minority government to ransom.

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    Mute Paul Wallace
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:08 AM

    They are back and back BIG STYLE

    17
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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:47 AM

    ff would and will do it all again beacuse they think they did a great job in government.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Mar 5th 2016, 9:05 AM

    Don’t be worrying too much. They were elected by a core vote of Old Fianna Fáil voters. They have 44 seats out of 158. They are snookered whichever choice they make , liquorice all sorts coalition or propping up a minority government. Why? Because they will have to support tough decisions for the good of the country NOT the Party and they will not have a free hand on stuffing every State and semi-State body with Party hacks.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Mar 5th 2016, 10:45 AM

    Five years for treason with a lush pension. Where would you get it. If our Litigation laws weren’t so strict we could all be reminded more stringently through the media before elections of the Candidates past performances.

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    Mute Ivorpabst
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    Mar 5th 2016, 3:34 PM

    Callely should have had a go – he would have made it, given the national amnesia which returned the likes of Haughey etc.

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    Mute Seán Domhnall O'Sullivan
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    Mar 5th 2016, 11:22 PM

    Completely embarrassing and cringe worthy for Ireland.

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    Mute Aisling Farrell
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:33 PM

    Another Haughey. God help us.

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