Myanmar coup: Protests cancel New Year events

Opponents of military rule in Myanmar canceled traditional new year festivities on Tuesday and instead showed their anger with the generals who seized power through low-key displays of defiance and small protests across the country.

Emily Wither reports.

Anti-coup protesters in Myanmar have cancelled New Year celebrations.

Swapping them for more demonstrations to keep up pressure on the generals who seized power.

This is not how the five-day holiday is usually celebrated.

In the southeastern city of Dawei demonstrators carried flowers normally displayed during festivities to mark the new year.

The UN human rights office says it fears that the military clampdown on protesters risked escalating into a civil conflict like that seen in Syria and appealed for a halt to what they called the "slaughter." The February coup has plunged Myanmar into crisis after 10 years of tentative steps toward democracy.

According to a tally by an activist group the security forces have responded with force killing 710 protesters since the coup.

Myanmar's detained government leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, asked a court on Monday (April 12) to be allowed to meet her lawyers in person as she appeared at a hearing via video link.

She has only been allowed to talk with her lawyers via video link in the presence of security officials.

Suu Kyi faces charges brought by the military junta that could see her jailed for years.

The military says it had to overthrow her government because the November election won by her National League for Democracy was rigged.

The election commission dismiss the accusation.