The leader of the coup in Myanmar has said a new election will be held as promised in a year and that the military will hand over power to the winners.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing made no mention of the ongoing unrest in the country during a 20-minute televised speech on Monday, his first to the public since the takeover.
Thousands of people joined anti-coup protests across Myanmar on Monday as workers went on a nationwide strike, demanding the release of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the return of democracy.
In the commercial capital, Yangon, more than 1,000 people gathered at a park by mid-morning, helping to kick off a third straight day of rallies following last week’s coup.
“This is a work day, but we aren’t going to work even if our salary will be cut,” one protester, 28-year-old garment factory worker, Hnin Thazin, told AFP.
In Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay, more than a thousand had also gathered by mid morning.
One demonstrating doctor – who did not want to be named – told the BBC: “Today, we, professionals – especially civil servant professionals such as doctors, engineers and teachers – came out to show that we are all together in this. Our objective is the same – to make the dictatorship fall.”
The general’s speech drew angry opposition, with images on social media showing people banging pots and pans in protest in front of television screens.
Gen Min Aung Hlaing’s speech focused more on the reasons for the coup and less on threats to protesters.
He said the electoral commission had failed to investigate irregularities over voter lists in the November election and had not allowed fair campaigning.
The commission had said there was no evidence to support claims of widespread fraud.
Gen Min Aung Hlaing, wearing green military uniform, promised new elections and to hand power to the winner. A new “reformed” election commission would oversee it.
