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Myanmar coup: Protesters flee after being 'trapped' overnight | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Around 200 people were thought to be trapped in the Sanchaung district | |
Dozens of Myanmar protesters who were trapped overnight by security forces have now fled the premises. | |
Around 200 people in a district of Yangon had on Monday been blocked from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of the city on Monday. | Around 200 people in a district of Yangon had on Monday been blocked from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of the city on Monday. |
Of this, at least 40 people were arrested and taken away overnight, a local resident told BBC News. | |
Others managed to escape in the quiet hours of the night as police numbers dwindled. | |
Mass protests have been seen across the South-east Asian nation since the military seized power on 1 February in a coup. | |
At least 54 people have died in the protests, which are calling for an end to military rule and the release of the country's elected government leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi - who were overthrown and detained in the coup. | |
The general who returned Myanmar to military rule | |
Aung San Suu Kyi: Democracy icon who fell from grace | |
According to United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres, many of those trapped on Monday had been women who were marching in support of International Women's Day. | |
The UN had appealed to the military for their "safe release", with Mr Guterres urging "maximum restraint". | |
Early on Tuesday, one protester told the BBC that he was able to leave at around 06:30 local time (00:00 GMT). He said security forces had left the area early in the morning. | Early on Tuesday, one protester told the BBC that he was able to leave at around 06:30 local time (00:00 GMT). He said security forces had left the area early in the morning. |
He added that 40 people were arrested overnight, but the rest of them remained hidden until the morning and were able to leave. | He added that 40 people were arrested overnight, but the rest of them remained hidden until the morning and were able to leave. |
Another protester tweeted on Tuesday morning that she had "arrived home safe...[after being] at a place in Sanchaung the entire night", adding that "all who were hiding with me are safe". | Another protester tweeted on Tuesday morning that she had "arrived home safe...[after being] at a place in Sanchaung the entire night", adding that "all who were hiding with me are safe". |
'Free the students' | 'Free the students' |
Myanmar police had on Monday been raiding houses in the area looking for people who were from outside the district. | Myanmar police had on Monday been raiding houses in the area looking for people who were from outside the district. |
Residents and a local news service claimed on Facebook that at least 20 people had been arrested in the raids. | Residents and a local news service claimed on Facebook that at least 20 people had been arrested in the raids. |
Reports later emerged that security forces had surrounded a group of young people in the Sanchaung neighbourhood - with explosions heard from the area. | Reports later emerged that security forces had surrounded a group of young people in the Sanchaung neighbourhood - with explosions heard from the area. |
Many protesters, who had nowhere to turn to, were taken in by local residents. Others were trapped. | |
Myanmar coup: How did we get here? | |
Activist Maung Saungkha said on Twitter late on Monday that she managed to "escape" Sanchaung, but added that "almost 200 young protesters are blocked by police and soldiers there". | Activist Maung Saungkha said on Twitter late on Monday that she managed to "escape" Sanchaung, but added that "almost 200 young protesters are blocked by police and soldiers there". |
In Yangon, huge numbers of people gathered on the streets, defying a curfew, in an attempt to distract security forces. They were heard chanting: "Free the students in Sanchaung." | In Yangon, huge numbers of people gathered on the streets, defying a curfew, in an attempt to distract security forces. They were heard chanting: "Free the students in Sanchaung." |
Security forces fired guns and used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them, Reuters news agency reports. | Security forces fired guns and used stun grenades in an attempt to disperse them, Reuters news agency reports. |
It's thought that three people died in demonstrations across the country on Monday. | It's thought that three people died in demonstrations across the country on Monday. |
Protesters have been taking to the streets for the past month calling for an end to military rule and the release of the country's elected government leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi - who were overthrown and detained in the coup. | Protesters have been taking to the streets for the past month calling for an end to military rule and the release of the country's elected government leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi - who were overthrown and detained in the coup. |
Party official dies in custody in Myanmar | Party official dies in custody in Myanmar |
The shadowy business empire funding Myanmar's military | The shadowy business empire funding Myanmar's military |
Separately on Monday, the military government revoked the publishing licenses of five local news outlets - Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News - that had been widely covering the protests. | Separately on Monday, the military government revoked the publishing licenses of five local news outlets - Mizzima, DVB, Khit Thit Media, Myanmar Now and 7Day News - that had been widely covering the protests. |
In a statement on Facebook, Mizzima said it would defy this ban, adding that it would "continue to fight against the military coup by publishing and broadcasting through multimedia platforms". | In a statement on Facebook, Mizzima said it would defy this ban, adding that it would "continue to fight against the military coup by publishing and broadcasting through multimedia platforms". |
Just before the government's announcement, Myanmar Now reported that its office in downtown Yangon had been raided by soldiers and police. | Just before the government's announcement, Myanmar Now reported that its office in downtown Yangon had been raided by soldiers and police. |
They added that computers, printers and parts of the newsroom's data server had been seized. One of the news agency's reporters was arrested while livestreaming a protest in Yangon last month. | They added that computers, printers and parts of the newsroom's data server had been seized. One of the news agency's reporters was arrested while livestreaming a protest in Yangon last month. |
Myanmar in profile | Myanmar in profile |
Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule | Myanmar, also known as Burma, became independent from Britain in 1948. For much of its modern history it has been under military rule |
Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year | Restrictions began loosening from 2010 onwards, leading to free elections in 2015 and the installation of a government led by veteran opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi the following year |
In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" | In 2017, Myanmar's army responded to attacks on police by Rohingya militants with a deadly crackdown, driving more than half a million Rohingya Muslims across the border into Bangladesh in what the UN later called a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing" |