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Supporters of democracy in Myanmar gather outside the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 1 to condemn the two-year rule of the military junta following a coup and to call for democracy in Myanmar. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

“Victory to Myanmar democracy!”

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, exactly two years after the military coup took place in Myanmar, people holding up the three-finger symbol of resistance to the coup gathered in the alley in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul's Seongdong neighborhood and called for the return of democracy in Myanmar.

That day, an association representing 106 local civic groups organized a press conference voicing support for democracy in Myanmar and condemning the two-year rule of the military junta.

Supporters of democracy in Myanmar gather outside the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 1 to condemn the two-year rule of the military junta following a coup and to call for democracy in Myanmar. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

According to those who took part in the press conference, close to 3,000 people had been killed as of late last month due to bloody suppression by pro-coup forces and 1,750 Myanmar citizens who resisted the military have been arrested. In addition, over 2 million people have become refugees due to indiscriminate air raids.

The groups made an appeal to the international community, calling for an urgent international response to prevent the Myanmar military from further suppressing the human rights of the people.

After the press conference, the groups also staged a skit condemning Myanmar's military.

A supporter of democracy in Myanmar holds a sign outside the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 1 to condemn the two-year rule of the military junta following a coup and to call for democracy in Myanmar. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

On Feb. 1, 2021, the Myanmar military staged a coup by claiming that the November 2020 election, which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won, was fraudulent.

Despite the massive civil disobedience movement and resistance put up by pro-democracy forces in the aftermath of the coup, they failed to achieve their desired results due to the military’s brutal and bloody suppression of protests.

In reality, the suffering of the Myanmar people continues till this day.

Because of this, human rights groups are urging a strong intervention by the international community to finally end the crisis in Myanmar within the year.

Here, we present a collection of photos taken near the Myanmar Embassy on Wednesday.

Supporters of democracy in Myanmar gather outside the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 1 to condemn the two-year rule of the military junta following a coup and to call for democracy in Myanmar. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Supporters of democracy in Myanmar gather outside the Myanmar Embassy in Seoul on Feb. 1 to condemn the two-year rule of the military junta following a coup and to call for democracy in Myanmar. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

By Shin So-young, staff reporter

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