Major trade unions in Burma (also known an Myanmar) called on members to shut down the economy from Monday to back a campaign against last month’s coup, raising pressure on the junta as its forces cracked down on protesters and occupied hospitals in the main city Yangon. Witnesses reported sounds of gunfire or stun grenades in several areas of the commercial capital after nightfall, as soldiers set up camp in hospitals and university compounds, local media reported. It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The move came after some of the largest nationwide protests since the Feb. 1 coup and an alliance of nine unions said they planned the “full extended shutdown of the Myanmar economy”. “To continue economic and business activities as usual…will only benefit the military as they repress the energy of the Myanmar people,” they said in a joint statement. “The time to take action in …
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