Tensions high as mass protests in Myanmar enter second week

Mass street demonstrations in Myanmar entered ir second week Saturday with neir protesters r military government y seek to unseat showing any signs of backing off from confrontations.

Protesters in Yangon, country’s biggest city, again congregated at Hleden intersection, a key crossros from which groups fanned out to or points, including embassies of United States and China. y marched despite an order banning garings of five or more people.

U.S., especially after anuncement by President Joe Biden of sanctions against military regime, is regarded as an ally in protesters’ struggle against Feb. 1 coup. China is detested as an ally of ruling generals, whose support is crucial to m keeping ir grip on power.

Demonstrations also resumed in second biggest city, Mandalay, with lawyers making up one large contingent.

military ousted country’s leer, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her government and prevented recently elected lawmakers from opening a new session of Parliament. Suu Kyi and or senior members of her government and party remain in detention.

junta led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said it was forced to act because Suu Kyi’s government failed to properly investigate allegations of fraud in last year’s election, which her National League for Democracy party won in a landslide. election commission said re is evidence to support military's claims.

Saturday’s protests coincided with birthday of Gen. Aung San, country’s independence leer and far of Suu Kyi. His name and im have appeared on signs carried by some demonstrators.

Authorities have stepped up arrests of politicians and activists, and in areas outside Yangon have become more aggressive in trying to break up protests.

According to independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 326 people have been detained since coup, of which 303 remain in custody.

re have been many reports over past three nights of raids during a curfew in which security personnel have tried to seize people from ir homes.

In several cases, neighbors and ors people have rushed to scene in such numbers that security forces have abandoned ir attempts to haul in ir targets. Videos of such raids have been widely posted on social media.

prisoners' association also said that riot police fired rubber bullets, injuring five students, and took away ar nine in a protest Friday in sourn city of Mawlamyine.

“Family members are left with kwledge of charges, location or condition of ir loved ones,” it said in a statement. ”se are t isolated incidents and nighttime raids are targeting dissenting voices. It is happening across country."

Detainees have included political leers, government officials, civil servants, activists and student leers. Medical personnel have been singled out because ir community initiated civil disobedience campaign against military takeover and remains in its vanguard.

military ruled directly for five deces after a 1962 coup, and used lethal force to quash a massive 1988 uprising and a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks.

U.N.’s top human rights body on Friday passed a consensus resolution urging military to immediately release Suu Kyi and or civilian government leers while watering down a draft text amid pressure led by China and Russia.

In a special session at Human Rights Council in Geneva, original resolution presented by Britain and European Union was revised to remove calls to bolster ability of a U.N. rights expert to scrutinize Myanmar and for restraint from country’s military.

After updated resolution passed with opposition, Chinese Ambassor Chen Xu thanked sponsors for “opting our recommendations” but said China still was distancing itself from measure.