Military under renewed pressure

Fruity likeness: Portraits of Suu Kyi carved into watermelons by her supporters in Mandalay. — Reuters

THE country’s military leaders came under renewed pressure as the world’s wealthiest nations condemned the junta for responding to anti-coup demonstrators “with violence”, a rebuke coming on the heels of tightened sanctions from Washington and Brussels.

Authorities have gradually ratcheted up their use of force against a massive and largely peaceful civil disobedience campaign demanding the return of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.