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Showdown in Myanmar: Next generation defies coup leaders

THE DEBATE
THE DEBATE © FRANCE 24

Can Myanmar's military put a lid on it? Across the country, this Monday saw a third day of protests against the coup of last week that called time on a decade of democratic transition. Before 2011, citizens in one of Asia's poorest countries had mostly been secluded from the outside world. With Facebook and Twitter now cut off and the top leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi's NLD detained, the junta has certainly stacked the odds in its favour.

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So what to make of the next generation taking to the streets? The scenes these past three days are reminiscent of Thailand, where young people seem to be shrugging off political fault lines of old. Is it a fair comparison? And how far can they get without a leader? 

Failure or success also depends in part on outside players like China and whether stability for them means the military or sticking with the more business-friendly gradual opening of recent years. 

Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain and Imen Mellaz.

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