People from Myanmar living in Thailand demonstrated in front of the United Nations regional office in Bangkok today, to protest against the military junta in their country and to demand the release of the National League of Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other party members being held in military custody.

One protester, who has been living in Thailand for two decades, told Thai PBS at the protest site that the majority of Myanmar’s people are supportive of Aung San Suu Kyi because, under her administration, the economy and the livelihoods of people have improved, with free education for young people.

She said that “the Lady”, as Aung San Suu Kyi is popularly known, is the hope of the Myanmar people, adding that she was saddened that Myanmar is under military dictatorship again.

The protester, who declined to be named, said that many of Myanmar’s people are not afraid of the military junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, and have taken to the streets to protest against the coup.

Thai police, from Nang Loeng police station, have been deployed to keep the protest in order and to make sure that all the protesters wear face masks and wash their hands with sanitizer before entering the protest site.

Earlier this week, people from Myanmar and followers of the Ratsadon group staged a similar protest in front of the Myanmar Embassy on Sathorn Road in Bangkok.  The Thai protesters, however, refused to disperse and fought a running battle with the police, hurling missiles at them. A few later arrested.