Protesters in Myanmar are back out in large numbers Monday, demonstrating against the country’s military regime despite an ominous warning of a deadly response by security forces.   A group called Gen Z along with the Civil Disobedience Movement issued a call Sunday for a general strike, urging people to come together for a “spring revolution” on the “Five Twos,” a reference to the digits in Monday’s date, 22/2/2021, and a nod to the 8888 pro-democracy uprising in Myanmar on August 8, 1988.  A message carried Sunday on state-owned MRTV warned protesters “are now inciting the people, especially emotional teenagers and youths, to a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life.”   Reports out of Yangon says security forces have set up roadblocks near some foreign embassies, which have become gathering points for protesters calling for foreign intervention.    Tom Andrews, the U.N.’s special rapporteur for Myanmar, tweeted late Sunday that he was “deeply concerned” about the junta’s warning, adding a warning of his own: “Unlike 1988, actions by security forces are being recorded & you will be held accountable.” Deeply concerned w an ominous public warning by the junta that protesters are “inciting the people” to “a confrontation path where they will suffer the loss of life”. Warning to the junta: Unlike 1988, actions by security forces are being recorded & you will be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/1VGa3lWvqS— UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews (@RapporteurUn) February 22, 2021Three people have already been killed as a result of the daily protests across Myanmar since the overthrow of the civilian government on February 1, including two people killed in Mandalay Saturday — one of them a teenage boy — when police and security forces used live and rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannon and slingshots against demonstrators.   An additional 20 people were wounded in Saturday’s violence, according to the head of a volunteer emergency service.  The activist group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners says 640 people have since been arrested, charged or sentenced in connection with the military takeover.   One of those arrested is actor Lu Min, who was detained at his home in Yangon, according to a message posted on his Facebook page by his wife. Lu Min had taken part in protests in Yangon and was one of six celebrities the army said were wanted under an anti-incitement law.  The army accused Lu Min of encouraging civil servants to join in the protest. If convicted, he faces a two-year prison sentence.    An internet shutdown Monday morning has been rumored in Myanmar, with the U.S. embassy among those warning people to be prepared for a blackout.Reports received that internet and mobile data may not be available from 1:00 am to 12:00 pm tomorrow in Yangon.— American Citizen Services – Burma (Myanmar) (@ACSRangoon) February 21, 2021NetBlocks, which tracks internet disruptions and shutdowns, reported that Myanmar was back online from 9 am Monday after an eighth night of internet shutdowns imposed by the military  NetBlocks said that while connectivity is restored, online platforms remain filtered with indications that mobile data restrictions are now in place. Update: #Myanmar is back online from 9 am after an eighth night of internet shutdowns imposed by the military 📈While connectivity is restored, online platforms remain filtered with indications that mobile data restrictions are now in place #Yangon📰https://t.co/Jgc20OBk27pic.twitter.com/YAPlAhbIHe— NetBlocks (@netblocks) February 22, 2021Sunday, Facebook took down the main page of the Myanmar military, known as Tatmadaw, citing the firm’s policy of prohibiting the incitement of violence, Reuters reported.    A company spokesperson said in a statement that the page was removed “for repeated violations of our Community Standards prohibiting incitement of violence and coordinating harm.”   On February 11, Facebook announced it was limiting the distribution of all content from the military’s pages and profiles “in line with our global policies on repeat offenders of misinformation.”  U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Twitter Sunday that the United States “will continue to take firm action against those who perpetrate violence against the people of Burma as they demand the restoration of their democratically elected government,” referring to Myanmar’s previous name.  “We stand with the people of Burma.”The United States will continue to take firm action against those who perpetrate violence against the people of Burma as they demand the restoration of their democratically elected government. We stand with the people of Burma.— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 22, 2021U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the deadly violence. “The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable,” he said on Twitter late Saturday.I condemn the use of deadly violence in Myanmar.The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.Everyone has a right to peaceful assembly. I call on all parties to respect election results and return to civilian rule.— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 21, 2021Britain said it would consider further action against those involved in violence against protesters, and the French Foreign Ministry called the violence “unacceptable.”        In a Twitter message, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on “the military and all security forces in #Myanmar to immediately stop violence against civilians.”I strongly condemn the violence against peaceful civilian protestors by the military. I urge the military and all security forces in #Myanmar to immediately stop violence against civilians. We will discuss on Monday #FAC the latest events in Myanmar to take appropriate decisions— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) February 20, 2021EU foreign ministers are to meet Monday to discuss possible sanctions.       In a statement released late Sunday, Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry called the messages “flagrant interference” in its internal affairs.   “Despite facing the unlawful demonstrations, incitements of unrest and violence, the authorities concerned are exercising utmost restraint through minimum use of force to address the disturbances,” it said in a statement.   But security forces have grown increasingly aggressive against the protesters, who have clashed with them since the military detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other high-ranking officials of the civilian government nearly three weeks ago.        The military declared a one-year state of emergency, citing widespread fraud in last November’s general elections, won in a landslide by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy.      The military’s claims were rejected by Myanmar’s electoral commission.     Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup, promised last week in a nationally televised speech that new elections would be held to bring what he called a “true and disciplined democracy,” but he did not specify when they would take place.  
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