Myanmar’s generals imposed a second straight overnight internet shutdown, ignoring international condemnation as they worked to grind down a popular uprising against their coup.
In the two weeks since troops ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and took the civilian leader into custody, big urban centres and isolated village communities alike have been in open revolt.
Security forces have used increasing force to quell huge nationwide street protests and a disobedience campaign encouraging civil servants to strike.
Troops have fanned out around the country in recent days and fired rubber bullets to disperse one rally in Mandalay, hours before authorities again cut internet gateways.
The shutdown comes after another day of protests in Yangon, in defiance of armoured vehicles and troop convoys stationed around key sections of the city — although turnout was smaller than in recent days.
Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, saw a clash that left at least six injured after police used slingshots against protesters and fired rubber bullets into the crowd.
A group of engineers in hard hats stood on the steps of a pagoda in the capital Naypyidaw and held signs demanding the release of Suu Kyi from detention, a livestream from local media outlet Myanmar Now showed.
