MYANMAR coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing called on Burmese people to unite behind the army’s vision of democracy on the country’s Union Day holiday today.

“I would seriously urge the entire nation to join hands with the Tatmadaw [military] for the successful realisation of democracy,” the army supremo declared less than a fortnight after seizing power and arresting elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Top brass marked Union Day by announcing an amnesty for thousands of prisoners in a bid to pacify mass protests that are taking place against the coup across the whole country.

But Amnesty International said this would only draw attention to the number of people being jailed for peacefully protesting.

Human rights advocates have also warned that a new cybersecurity law will “permanently undermine internet freedom” in Myanmar.

International Commission of Jurists secretary-general Sam Zafiri said it was “telling” that controlling cyberspace was one of the junta’s top priorities.

“The military is used to having total power in Myanmar, but this time they have to face a population that has access to information and can communicate,” he observed.