Power Shortages Set Off Small Protests in Myanmar BANGKOK (AP) - Numerous small protests have arisen in Myanmar over persistent power shortages as the past year's democratic reforms have led to rising expectations from a long-suppressed population. Demonstrations in the past week in Myanmar's two largest cities and several towns could be seen as an indicator of the new openness under President Thein Sein, who has overseen the country's emergence from decades of authoritarian rule. But from another point of view, the protests - which have been limited to a few hundred people - are a reminder of the early stages of past unrest in Myanmar, formerly called Burma. The most recent uprising, led by monks in 2007, began as small protests over fuel price increases. "Protests like this in Myanmar always have the potential to escalate and lead to political unrest," said Trevor Wilson, a former Australian envoy to Myanmar who now teaches at Australian National University. It is hard to predict how these protests might develop. Mr. Thein Sein was prime minister of the previous military government but shed his formal links with the army to run with its proxy political party in 2010. His program has led to the easing of economic penalties imposed by the United States and the European Union. His government's efforts won the cooperation of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the longtime face of the opposition. Though Myanmar has plentiful natural gas and even exports it to Thai and Chinese markets, the country has suffered from power shortages for more than a decade. A poor power distribution infrastructure has lagged even more as the economy has grown. Along with the revival of parliamentary politics, there has been a new assertiveness in civil society, especially in lobbying on environmental issues. One campaign, opposing the Chinese-financed Myitsone hydropower dam on the Irrawaddy River, won an astonishing victory when the government announced the cancellation of the project. Still, the potential for conflict in Myanmar lies in the space between the political reforms achieved so far and the shortfall in other fundamental changes, particularly in the economy. Ms. Aung Sang Suu Kyi has endorsed the protests, in which demonstrators have held candlelight vigils and marches. Speaking Tuesday at the opening of a branch office for her party, she said: "The country suffers from power shortages because of mismanagement. I believe that the system has to be changed to get electricity or to get water or to get jobs. The immediate prospects for strife are hard to calculate. The protests have been peaceful and relatively unassertive so far, with the crowd in Yangon - Myanmar's biggest city - topping out at about 300 on Friday night. The demonstrations continued for a fifth night on Saturday in Yangon, though the number of protesters dropped to about 200. Truckloads of riot police officers looked on but did nothing. The authorities are clearly nervous, though. In the central city of Mandalay, the Special Branch political police held several protesters briefly for questioning. On Thursday in the central town of Pyay, police pressure on demonstrators led to a brawl and six arrests. The comrades of those detained gathered outside the local prison until they were released, then continued protesting.