Violence and protests mark anniversary of Myanmar army takeover

A Buddhist monk raises his clenched fist while marching during an anti-military government protest rally on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Mandalay, Myanmar. The new U.N. special envoy for Myanmar says violence has intensified since the military took power a year ago and sparked a resistance movement in the country. (AP Photo)

A nationwide strike in Myanmar has marked the one-year anniversary of the army’s seizure of power, as sporadic protests and violence raised further international concern over the struggle for power.

Photos and video on social media showed that a countrywide “silent strike” had emptied streets in Myanmar’s largest city of Yangon and other towns as people stayed home and businesses shut their doors in a show of opposition to army rule.