The crisis in Myanmar has deepened as police occupied hospitals and universities and reportedly arrested hundreds of people involved in protesting against last month’s military seizure of power. The police action came as a coalition of labour unions called a strike for Monday. Myanmar labour unions, meanwhile, issued a joint call for a nationwide work stoppage beginning on Monday, with the goal of a “full, extended shutdown of the Myanmar economy”. Multiple reports from Yangon said there had been police raids Saturday night seeking to seize organisers and supporters of the protest movement. The coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.

Source: Irish Independent March 07, 2021 18:56 UTC