Pro-democracy activists in Myanmar are holding a “silent strike” to mark two years since a military coup that removed Aung San Suu Kyi from power. Protesters have urged the public to remain indoors and for businesses to close for Wednesday’s anniversary. The call came as the UK, US, Canada and Australia announced fresh sanctions against army-linked firms. The military administration on Wednesday extended a state of emergency for six months. The strike was held to mark two years since the Myanmar military launched a coup d’etat, removing the democratically-elected government. The army made allegations of widespread voter fraud in a vote held months earlier, in November 2020, which Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won with more than 80% of the vote. The military’s claims have been dismissed as baseless by the vast majority of the international community, and plans to hold new elections to cement junta rule have been dismissed as a “sham”, including by the UN.(BBC)…[+]