Yangon erupted in cheers at 5pm to show support for the elected civilian government.
The streets were filled with applause as people left their homes to applaud for five minutes, some shouting “may the dictatorship fall,” hours after dozens of detained MPs held an impromptu parliamentary session where they symbolically pledged to continue working for the people.
Once again, doing the coup and expecting everyone to go along hasn’t worked out exactly as planned for Myanmar’s generals.
Not when the people’s elected representatives go about their business anyway, as 70 members of the ruling National League for Democracy party did by convening in the compound where the military is holding them in the capital of Naypyidaw.
‘May the dictatorship fall!’ #Yangon turned out at 5pm today to cheer for detained lawmakers defying the junta #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/h8F09jKTB5
— Coconuts Yangon (@CoconutsYangon) February 4, 2021
The meeting was organized by Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, a Yangon MP representing Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township who just won in November. Kyaw Soe Lin, who represents Mandaaly’s Maha Aung Myay Township, presided over the session.
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Aung Hein Min, a member of the Hpakant People’s Assembly there, told reporters that the remaining MPs not present would be asked to sign up the pledge online.
Meanwhile, the military has convinced 22 small parties with zero elected representatives between them to announce they would work to implement the goals of junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who headed the armed forces until he seized power Monday.
They pledged to work along with the military’s proxy party, the USDP, the only of the lot to win a single seat in November’s general election.
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