Opponents of military rule in Myanmar staged a “silent strike” on Thursday as the country marked three years since the coup that ousted the elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The show of defiance against the junta, which said the previous day it would extend a state of emergency for another six months, follows prolonged conflict between the military and pro-democracy resistance groups as well as ethnic minority rebels, with the opposition forces gaining momentum since last October.

There was reduced traffic and fewer people in the streets of the largest city Yangon during the strike that began at 10 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m., with protestors having asked people to stay at home.