Five days of street protests over chronic power shortages present Myanmar's reformist government with a headache and an opportunity.
Police forcibly dispersed protesters in the central Myanmar town of Pyi on Thursday, a heavy-handed response reminiscent of the previous military junta that could fuel grievances among an impoverished and long-neglected people.
But state television also announced emergency measures on Wednesday to boost electricity supplies, suggesting a government that realises how popular discontent could derail its reform process and irk the US and Europe, which recently suspended sanctions on this once-isolated country.The danger is that these protests spark similar anger over other bread-and-butter issues bedevilling the people - high food and fuel prices and jobs for instance.
"If they want us to stop protesting, they will have to give 24-hour electricity and more human rights," said K Lwin, a 20-year-old who joined about 100 others on Thursday for a third night of protests in Yangon.
"I hate the previous government. The new government is better ... but they can improve."
{{/usCountry}}"I hate the previous government. The new government is better ... but they can improve."
{{/usCountry}}The protests are the latest challenge for reformist President Thein Sein who has freed hundreds of political prisoners, started peace talks with ethnic minority rebel groups and held historic by-elections that catapulted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party into parliament.
The power protests have produced what could be another Myitsone moment: a chance for the government to prove it knows how to listen.
It has vowed to rush in six 2-megawatt generators bought from US company Caterpillar Inc and two 25-megawatt gas turbines from US conglomerate General Electric Co.
Protesters have accused the former military government of selling natural gas to China while Myanmar faces power outages.