Violent Clashes in Myanmar, as Military Generals Face Further Sanctions

Anti-military coup Protesters in Myanmar clashed with pro-army demonstrators on Thursday, while the military regime faced further sanctions from Britain and a ban by Facebook.

In Yangon, the country's biggest city, pro-army demonstrators threw stones at pro-democracy protesters, wounding many people.

On Wednesday, Myanmar foreign minister Wunna Maung Lwin, appointed by the military, began his visit to Thailand, which is the first foreign visit by a high-ranking official since the military coup and the army’s takeover of power early this month.

Thailand seeks to hold a special ministerial meeting for the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which includes 10 countries, to discuss the situation in Myanmar, according to the Thai newspaper “Bangkok Post”.

U.S. Treasury Department imposed on Tuesday sanctions on two Myanmar army generals over a military coup, which took place on Feb. 1.

“The military must reverse its actions and urgently restore the democratically elected government in Burma, or the Treasury Department will not hesitate to take further action,” the department said in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday that his country will continue to take “firm action” against those who perpetrate violence against Myanmar people, who are demanding the restoration of their democratically elected government.

In a tweet, Blinken said, “We stand with the people of Burma.”

Last month, the army carried out a military coup that shocked a country and brought it back into isolation within years of leaving it.

Seeking to justify the coup that was condemned by many Western capitals, the army said it was “a necessity to preserve the stability of the country.”