Health workers in southern Shan State protested the Burma Army’s military takeover outside of Sao San Htun Public Hospital this Thursday, February 4.

“We don’t want to work under a military dictator. Therefore, we didn’t work at the hospital today, and now we’re returning to our homes,” said one doctor, who requested anonymity.

More than 50 health staff gathered outside of the hospital in Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State.

Health workers from over 70 hospitals across the country refused to go to work until the army restores power back to the civilian government. Many people are joining a nightly peaceful protest against the military coup by banging cooking pots and pans from their residences. Others are honking car horns.

In response to the threat of mounting opposition against the dictatorship, the Tatmadaw—as they’re locally called—shutdown Facebook and other messenger services this Thursday in an apparent bid to quell dissent.

After refusing to concede to the National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide victory during Burma’s recent election, the Army staged a coup d’etat on February 1. State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma’s president, Win Myint, were arrested before the first session of Parliament was held to validate the 2020 general election results. 

Myint Swe, the military-appointed vice president in the NLD government, was given temporary power as president. He enacted a state of emergency and transferred legislative, executive and judicial power to Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.