NAYPYIDAW, 27 March, 2021 (TON): On Saturday, the Myanmar Military junta staged a major show of force for its annual Armed Forces Day Parade amid struggles to quell the protests against its rule.

The country has been facing challenges since the detention of the ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February, resulting violent crackdowns by the security forces against the massive protests.

Junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing again defended the coup and said, “The democracy we desire would be an undisciplined one if they pay no respect to and violate the law.”

The Armed Forces Day commemorates the start of local resistance to the Japanese occupation during World War II, usually accompanies a military parade attended by foreign officers and diplomats.
However, since the 1 February coup the junta has struggled to achieve international recognition and said that only eight international delegations attended Saturday’s event, including China and Russia. Moreover, fears have swirled that the day could become a flashpoint for more unrest.