Myanmar coup

The anniversary of the Feb. 1, 2021, coup prompted a nationwide "silent strike" by those inside the country who oppose the military's takeover.

The move comes days after a regional bloc of nations snubbed the country's ruling junta, disinviting coup leader Min Aung Hlaing from an upcoming summit.

Myanmar's ousted leader, once an icon of freedom, faces the prospect of another prolonged detention. But her handling of atrocities against the Rohingya has left her reputation abroad in tatters.

"They shoot in the head, but they don't know the revolution is in the heart," Khet Thi wrote. He died in police custody. In opposing the coup, "I have decided to sacrifice my life," he told a friend.

The remarks by Myanmar special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener during a closed-door session of the U.N. Security Council come as new fighting rages between the army and ethnic insurgents.

Many of those who led the first protests against Myanmar's coup were minority rights activists, garment workers, student groups and others who had butted heads with Aung San Suu Kyi and her party.

Security forces in Myanmar reportedly shot and killed nine anti-junta protesters on Friday, bringing the number killed in six weeks of post-coup unrest in the Southeast Asian country to well over 200.

Myanmar imposed martial law in parts of the country's largest city after a crackdown on peaceful protests opposing last month's military coup resulted in the deaths of at least 38 on Sunday.

The Biden administration will offer temporary protected status to people who fear returning to Myanmar after the military coup and ensuing suppression of protesters that has killed at least 70 people.

Witnesses report Myanmar security forces have fired into crowds, and even windows. Observers say at least 54 people have been killed and 1,800 detained since the Feb. 1 coup.