Myanmar protesters adopt Hunger Games salute as thousands take to the streets in anti-coup protests

Tens of thousands of anti-coup protesters have poured back onto the streets of Myanmar on Sunday, raising their hands in a three-fingered salute during the second day of mass demonstrations against the military takeover. 

The gesture is a symbol of resistance inspired by the Hunger Games film franchise, which takes place in a dystopian world whose characters live under a brutal totalitarian government that severely restricts their rights.

The salute was first taken up by Thai protesters opposing a 2014 military coup and has been a noticeable feature of pro-democracy demonstrations in the country ever since, including mass rallies last year.

Myanmarese protesters have now adopted the symbol of resistance at huge demonstrations against last Monday’s arrest of de-facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials. 

Armed police clashed with a crowd in the southeastern town of Myawaddy, as live video published on Facebook showed shots were heard as police tried to break up the protest. 

Tens of thousands of anti-coup protesters have poured back onto the streets of Myanmar on Sunday, raising their hands in a three-fingered salute during the second day of mass demonstrations against the military takeover. The gesture is a symbol of resistance inspired by the Hunger Games film franchise, which takes place in a dystopian world whose characters live under a brutal totalitarian government that severely restricts their rights. Pictured: Protesters in Yangon on Sunday flash the salute

The protests on Saturday and Sunday were the first mass demonstrations condemning the coup that brought a 10-year experiment with partial democracy to a crashing halt. Pictured: Protesters flash a three-fingered salute – a symbol of resistance – during a demonstration in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Sunday

This weekend’s demonstrations are the biggest protests in Myanmar since the 2007 Saffron Revolution that helped spur a transition to democracy. Pictured: A protester…