Myanmar protests: Civilian leader in hiding vows to continue ‘revolution’

The leader of a group of Myanmar politicians ousted by a military coup has vowed to press on with a “revolution” against the authorities.

In his first public address, Mahn Win Khaing Than said “this is the darkest moment of the nation and the moment that the dawn is close”.

From hiding, he leads a group of legislators who have refused to accept last month’s coup.

As many as 12 protesters are reported to have been killed on Saturday.

Myanmar (also known as Burma) has been gripped by street protests since the military seized control on 1 February and detained Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

The NLD won a landslide victory in last year’s election, but the military said the poll was fraudulent.

NLD MPs who managed to escape arrest formed a new group, the Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), with Mahn Win Khaing Than appointed acting head. The CRPH is seeking international recognition as Myanmar’s rightful government.

Agencies