‘There are casualties, but the people are not going home,’ says Haik Martirosyan

Political scientist Haik Martirosyan wrote on his Facebook page: ‘In the wake of the military coup in Myanmar, a wave of mass protests has erupted. The people are demanding that the military council return power to the democratic civilian government and restore freedom to the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

The military responds with live fire. There are casualties. But the people are not going home. The movement has no leaders. There are no organizers in the squares directing the rallies, nor are there leaders or idols remaining free. The people are spontaneously in the streets. With disorganized organization. Only through their will.

Meanwhile, some civilian groups have armed themselves and are preparing for armed resistance. The military authority is not in harmony with a significant part of the population. Myanmar's generals, for their part, are not fools. They believe that by ousting civilian authority, they are, in their opinion, saving the country from mismanagement. In other words, they are going until the end.

The people of Myanmar, on the other hand, do not behave like sacrificial lambs and do not seek out leaders suitable for their tastes in the streets. They do not fear the fire and, by sacrificing their lives, intensify the struggle, attempting, according to their belief, to save the country once again.

The situation is tense. But there is movement. There is struggle. Neither side wishes to concede the country to its opponent.

Will the country give in? Is that possible? Yes, it certainly is.’