Myanmar police conducted door-to-door raids in Yangon on Monday night, searching for pro-democracy protesters as the ruling military junta intensifies efforts to suppress demonstrations. Security forces sealed off a block of streets in the Sanchaung district, threatening to punish residents who harboured protesters from outside the area.
The raids targeted apartments displaying the red-and-gold flag of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. Residents reported that police used stun grenades and fired guns, destroying locks on apartment buildings to gain entry. The nightly internet shutdown, imposed at 1am local time, hampered communication.
The barricade drew condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers, who demanded the safe release of those trapped, including female protesters who had been peacefully marching for International Women's Day. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for their release, a plea echoed by UK and US diplomatic missions.
Despite the crackdown, thousands defied a night-time curfew to protest in support of those trapped. By dawn, security forces had retreated, allowing some protesters to escape. One activist, Shar Ya Mone, vowed to continue demonstrating 'until the dictatorship ends'.
The military's state television MRTV announced the cancellation of licences for five local media outlets, barring them from broadcasting or publishing. The crackdown has claimed at least three more lives in northern Myanmar and the Irrawaddy Delta on Monday, as the junta seeks to quell dissent since the February 1 coup.
