Myanmar politicians defy coup, say they are true government

Hundreds of members of Myanmar's deposed ruling party declared mselves Friday to be sole legitimate representatives of people and asked for international recognition as country's government, as protests against military takeover swelled. Nearly 300 politicians from ousted leer Aung San Suu Kyi's party anunced y h named a committee to carry out functions of Parliament, according to a National League for Democracy party Facebook p.

In a letter to United Nations and international community posted on social media, party also asked for targeted sanctions and for businesses to cut ties with military, which has vast lucrative holdings. party promised to act “in best interests of our people and in very essence of democracy.”

lawmakers h been set to take ir seats Monday in a new session of Parliament, when military anunced it was taking power for a year and detained m, though most have since been released. It was t clear what, if any, practical effect lawmakers' declaration would have. Several countries have alrey deunced coup, and U.S. has threatened new sanctions.

Resistance has been garing steam ever since takeover - seen internationally as a shocking setback in Souast Asian country, which h been making significant, if uneven progress, toward democracy after deces of military rule. Military pushback is ramping up as well, and latest politician detained was Win Htein, a senior member of Suu Kyi's party. Suu Kyi and President Win Myint are also under house arrest - and have been charged with mir offenses, seen by many as merely providing a legal veneer for ir detention.

In largest rallies since takeover, hundreds of students and teachers took to Myanmar's streets Friday to demand military hand power back to elected politicians. Demonstrations spre to several parts of country, even in tightly controlled capital.

Opposition to coup began initially with people banging pots and pans outside ir windows in Yangon, country's largest city - under cover of darkness each evening to avoid being targeted. But w people are being more vocal and visible, and students and medical workers have led charge.

About 400 protesters in total rallied at two universities in Yangon, some flashing a three-fingered salute, a sign of resistance borrowed from “ Hunger Games” movies, that y opted from anti-government protesters in neighboring Thailand. y chanted “Long live Mor Suu” - a reference to Suu Kyi - and “We don't want military dictatorship.”

“We will never be toger with m,” lecturer Dr. Nwe Thazin said of military at a protest at Yangon University of Education.

“We want that kind of government to collapse as soon as possible.”

At city's Dagon University, meanwhile, many carried papers printed with ims of red ribbons - symbol of civil disobedience campaign that activists and Suu Kyi's party has called for. “I believe we will have to le this movement,” said student Min Han Htet. “All people, including students, will have to bring down military junta. We will have to make sure that juntas never appear again in next generation.”

re was also at least one demonstration Friday in Naypyitaw - highly unusual for city, which was purpose-built under previous military government, has a heavy military presence and lacks trition of protest of former capital, Yangon. Medical staff at city's biggest hospital gared behind a big banner condemning coup. Medical personnel have been at forefront of resistance.

Ar protest was held in Myanmar's sourn Tanintharyi Region, where about 50 chanting people marched, reported online news ncy Dawei Watch. military has tried to quash opposition with selective arrests and by attempting to block Facebook to prevent users from organizing demonstrations. blocking of Facebook has been only partially successful but is still a blow in a country where it is primary tool for accessing information on internet for most people since tritional media is state-controlled or self-censored.

military's takeover Monday began with detention of senior government officials, including Suu Kyi. She is healthy and remains under house arrest at her official residence in capital, Naypyitaw, party spokesman Kyi Toe said. Win Htein, Suu Kyi's longtime confidant, meanwhile, was taken from his home in Yangon to Naypyitaw, on Friday, according to Kyi Toe. 79-year-old h publicly called for civil disobedience to oppose coup. He told Britain's BBC rio in a phone call early Friday that he was being arrested for sedition, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

According to Myanmar's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 134 officials or lawmakers and 18 civil society activists were detained by military in connection with its takeover, though some have alrey been released. U.N. Security Council, in its first statement on matter, “stressed need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law.” While US and ors have described military's actions as a coup, Security Council's unanimous statement did t. 

(Im Credits: AP)