Supporters of the Myanmar army chief have taken to the streets to celebrate the coup. Social media shows a crowd gathering in the centre of the country’s largest city, Yangon.
There, people also waved flags from vehicles.
In other parts of the city, the military coup caused anger, fear and frustration. “I’m angry. I don’t want the army back to power,” said a 32-year-old man who refused to give his full name. “The way they act is tantamount to a dictatorship. We all know who we voted for.”
The army arrested Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi Monday morning, shortly before the new parliament was met. That would be dominated by this Nobel Prize winner’s political party. Her NDP defeated a party affiliated with the military in last year’s election.
The military declared a state of emergency, and the internet went black. In some places, this led to panic reactions. In Yangon, people started hoarding. They rushed to stores to buy foods such as rice and noodles. There were also queues at ATMs.
“I went to the market twice this morning. I bought rice and groceries,” said a 19-year-old woman. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m a little scared.”
