Automatic gunfire has been heard at a protest in northern Myanmar amid signs that the military is preparing a crackdown on opposition to the coup it carried out on 1 February.
Photo: AFP
Western embassies in Myanmar urged the military not to use violence as troops were reported on the streets of the largest city, Yangon.
The internet was almost entirely shut down from 1am (7.30am NZT).
A UN official accused the military of "declaring war" on the people.
Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on Myanmar (also known as Burma), said the generals were showing "signs of desperation" and would be held accountable.
A statement signed by the EU, the US and the UK said: "We call on security forces to refrain from violence against demonstrators, who are protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government."
It's as if the generals have declared war on the people of Myanmar: late night raids; mounting arrests; more rights stripped away; another Internet shutdown; military convoys entering communities. These are signs of desperation. Attention generals: You WILL be held accountable.
— UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews (@RapporteurUn) February 14, 2021
The coup in Myanmar removed the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Her party won a resounding victory at the election in November, but the military said the vote was fraudulent.
Suu Kyi is now under house arrest. Hundreds of activists and opposition leaders have also been detained.
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of protesters rallied against the military for the ninth day in a row.
At a protest in Kachin state, in the north, automatic gunfire could be heard as security forces clashed with anti-coup demonstrators in the city of Myitkyina. It was not clear whether rubber bullets or live rounds were being fired.
Five journalists were among those arrested.
In Yangon, armoured vehicles were seen on the streets for the first time since the coup. Monks and engineers led a rally there, while motorcyclists drove through the streets of the capital, Nay Pyi Taw.
Telecoms operators in Myanmar said they had been told to shut off internet services from 1am to 9am local time, Sunday into Monday.
Internet traffic was at 14 percent of normal levels after the order came into force, according to NetBlock, a monitoring group.
A doctor at a hospital in Nay Pyi Taw told the BBC the security forces were carrying out night-time raids on homes.
"I'm still worrying because they make a curfew statement just not to go outside between 20:00 and 04:00, but this makes a time for the police and soldiers to arrest people like us," said the doctor, who cannot be named for safety reasons.
"The previous day they stole into the house, cut down the fence, entered and arrested people unlawfully. That's why I'm also worrying, yeah."
An office of the US embassy in Yangon warned US nationals to stay indoors during curfew hours.
On Saturday, the military said arrest warrants had been issued for seven prominent opposition campaigners and warned the public not to harbour opposition activists fleeing arrest.
Video footage showed people reacting with defiance, banging pots and pans to warn their neighbours of night-time raids by the security forces.
The military on Saturday also suspended laws requiring court orders for detaining people longer than 24 hours and for searching private property.
- BBC
