In photos: 100 days of military rule in Myanmar

The military takeover of Myanmar early in the morning of Feb. 1 reversed the country's slow climb toward democracy after five decades of army rule.

Anti-coup protesters run away from military forces during a demonstration in Yangon, March 31, 2021.

But Myanmar's citizens were not shy about demanding their democracy be restored.

Demonstrators protest against the military junta's arrest of National League for Democracy party lawmakers Aung Myay Thar Zan Township court in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 18, 2021.

They poured into the streets of cities and towns, carrying banners calling for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party they reelected to office by a landslide last November.

Demonstrators gather in an intersection close to Sule Pagoda to protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 17, 2021.

The turnouts were enormous, and the country’s military rulers felt threatened.

Police charge forward to disperse protesters in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 20, 2021.

With a partial understanding of the situation, they tried to block social media platforms, which they knew could be used for organizing protests. But their more technologically adept opponents devised workarounds and activated word-of-mouth networks. The vast marches and demonstrations continued.

Protesters take positions behind a barricades as police gather in Yangon, Myanmar, March 7, 2021.

Gatherings were declared illegal, curfews imposed, the media muzzled, internet access limited even more. Still the protests went on.

A police truck sprays water to a crowd of protesters in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Feb. 8, 2021.

The security forces turned more forceful, but demonstrators remained defiant. Terror and lethal force was unleashed on them, with the predictably tragic results. Hundreds of protesters and bystanders have been killed, including dozens of children.

Family members mourn over Aung Myo Thant who was killed during clashes with police in Yangon, Myanmar, March 30, 2021.

In the 100 days since its takeover, the military has failed to secure its position and faces battles on more fronts, as armed ethnic minority groups seeking more autonomy join their struggle to that of the democracy activists.

Anti-coup protesters prepare makeshift bow and arrows to confront police in Thaketa township Yangon, Myanmar, March 27, 2021.

The street protests are fewer and much smaller now. Enraged citizens have taken up active self-defense, countering violence with violence.

An anti-coup protester throws a smoke bomb against police crackdown in Thaketa township Yangon, Myanmar, March 27, 2021.

In the cities, small bombings with homemade devices have become a daily occurrence, while hundreds, perhaps thousands, of activists have fled to join the ethnic guerrillas in the jungles along the borders, seeking safety as well as military training to continue the fight.

Anti-coup protesters stand behind a line of women's clothing hanged across a road to deter security personnel from entering the protest area in Yangon, Myanmar, March 9, 2021.

Myanmar nationals living in Thailand hold pictures of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they protest against the military coup in front of the United Nations building in Bangkok, Thailand, March 7, 2021.

Myanmar's Commander-in-Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021.

Anti-coup protesters carry an injured man following clashes with security in Yangon, Myanmar, March 14, 2021.

Riot police officers hold down a protester as they disperse protesters in Tharkata Township on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, March 6, 2021.

An anti-coup student protester is welcomed home with flowers by the residents of her neighborhood after being released from jail in Yangon, Myanmar, March 26, 2021.

A police officer aims a slingshot towards an unknown target during a crackdown on anti-coup protesters holding a rally in front of the Myanmar Economic Bank in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 15, 2021.

Thida Hnin cries during the funeral of her husband Thet Naing Win at Kyarnikan cemetery in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 23, 2021.

Engineers hold posters with an image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as they hold an anti-coup protest march in Mandalay, Myanmar, Feb. 15, 2021.