Myanmar’s junta continues arresting protesters, but makes concession on bus fare

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Anti-government demonstrators in Myanmar faced more arrests and intimidation Friday, but their protests against economic hardships achieved some success as the government ordered a rollback of bus fares that had been hiked along with fuel prices.

The military junta swiftly crushed the latest in a series of protests against the fuel price increases, with plainclothes police detaining more than 10 activists in front of Yangon City Hall before they could launch any action, witnesses said.

Protests have been held since Sunday against the junta’s doubling of fuel prices. Most have been broken up by security forces and civilians working on their behalf. Truckloads of the tough-looking men could be seen at various points around Yangon, the country’s biggest city.
But the defiant protesters could claim a partial victory, with the government ordering some bus companies to lower their recently hiked fares.

The protests have also highlighted the junta’s failure to foster economic development, and drawn fresh world attention to its poor human rights record, including the extended detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and more than 1,200 other political prisoners.

AP