to aung san suu kyi. they don t like the military takeover although they don t say that openly and they re worried that the armed groups resisting the military regime are operating closer and closer to the lake. what we need, said one of them, is peace . but there s little peace in myanmar. gunfire south of the lake, anti coup insurgents were battling the army just two weeks before we arrived. in retaliation, more than 20 civilians were lined up against the walls of this monastery and shot. we re passing through a village called tangtong and we know that there was a clash between a volunteer militia here, anti military, and the armed forces earlier this year and a number of people were arrested. it was the first time they d had armed clashes in this pretty popular tourist area and it shows just how widespread this
thousands of political prisoners are still being held. many behind this gate at the prison. one of them, a veteran activist released last november, was the only person willing to speak to us openly. if the right to protest was restored today, people would feel the streets again tomorrow. from past experience, we know the people of myanmar will never accept any form of dictatorship. but to fulfil the streets. ~ streets. while the malay, we were taken streets. while the malay, we were taken to streets. while the malay, we were taken to one streets. while the malay, we were taken to one of- streets. while the malay, we were taken to one of me s i streets. while the malay, we i were taken to one of me s most revered pagodas. in the past, it would have been packed with visitors praying for good fortune. the crowds are much thinner now. a woman approached me and want me to be careful. it s not safe since the coup, she said. we wish we could go back to how it was before. it s a forlorn
no one in the market wanted to talk about it, though. instead, they complained about rocketing inflation, of not enough people spending money. back in yangon, there is an air of normality. yet, barricades surrounding the city hall hint at the underlying insecurity. there is still occasional ambushes and assassination attempts. thousands of political prisoners are still being held, many behind this gate at insein prison. one of them, a veteran activist released last november, was the only person willing to speak to us openly. translation: if the right to protest was restored i today, people would fill the streets again tomorrow. from past experience, we know the people of myanmar will never accept any
they don t like the military takeover although they don t say that openly and they re worried that the armed groups resisting the military regime are operating closer and closer to the lake. what we need, said one of them, is peace . but there s little peace in myanmar. gunfire south of the lake, anti coup insurgents were battling the army just two weeks before we arrived. in retaliation, more than 20 civilians were lined up against the walls of this monastery and shot. we were passing through a village called tangtong and we know that there was a clash between a volunteer militia here, anti military, and the armed forces earlier this year and a number of people were arrested. it was the first time they had armed clashes in this pretty popular tourist area and it shows just how widespread this insurgency has become.
one such attack last week is believed to have killed at least 140 people. our south east asia correspondentjonathan head has been allowed to visit myanmar for the first time since the coup. his movements were restricted to a limited number of places and he was barred from contacting anyone in the opposition. much of myanmar is off limits to visitors these days. but the military government did allow us to come here much in the lake in xian state. in normal times, one of the country s most popular destinations. it is very quiet now. interviewing people directly is risky. you can be arrested for saying anything deemed negative. but the boatmen we met told us times have never been harder.