Yangon [Myanmar], February 1 (ANI): Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior officials have been detained by the military on early Monday.
The information was confirmed by the spokesperson of the ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesperson Myo Nyunt told Xinhua.
“I received internal reports about our state counsellor and the president being taken by the military. As far as I was informed, Shan State’s Planning and Finance Minister U Soe Nyunt Lwin, Kayah state’s NLD chairman Thaung Htay and some NLD representatives of the Ayeyarwady region’s Parliament have been detained,” the spokesperson said.
“Two members of the Central Executive Committee of the party were taken and I am also waiting to be detained as I was informed by our members that my turn will come shortly,” he added.
This comes in wake of the tensions between the government and the military stoking fears of a coup. The country was under military rule till 2011. Suu Kyi spent many years under house arrest, according to media reports.
The newly-elected lower house of the parliament was due to convene on Monday however the military called for a postponement. Media reports also suggest that telephone and internet lines in Naypyitaw, the country’s capital, have been suspended.
According to Sputnik, In January, Myanmar‘s military raised the prospect of a coup d’etat after what they believed was widespread voter fraud during the November 8 election, which was the country’s second general election since the end of military rule in 2011.
Myanmar military declares 1-year emergency after detaining civilian leaders
Myanmar military on Monday declared a state of emergency in the country for one year, hours after detaining civilian leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.
The state-run Radio and Television (MRTV) announced on its social media page that it was no longer working on Monday morning, Xinhua reported.
Telecommunications in the capital city of Naypyitaw and some other regions and states are also being cut off.
In the early morning raids, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other senior officials have been detained by the military.
Myo Nyunt, spokesperson of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) told Xinhua: “I received internal reports about our state counsellor and the president being taken by the military. As far as I was informed, Shan State’s Planning and Finance Minister U Soe Nyunt Lwin, Kayah state’s NLD chairman Thaung Htay and some NLD representatives of the Ayeyarwady region’s parliament have been detained.”
“Two members of Central Executive Committee of the party were taken and I am also waiting to be detained as I was informed by our members that my turn will come shortly,” he said.
This comes in wake of the tensions between the government and the military stoking fears of a coup. The country was under military rule till 2011. Suu Kyi spent many years under house arrest, according to media reports.
The newly-elected lower house of the parliament was due to convene on Monday however the military called for a postponement. Media reports also suggest that telephone and internet lines in Naypyitaw, the country’s capital, have been suspended.
According to Sputnik, In January, Myanmar‘s military raised the prospect of a coup d’etat after what they believed was widespread voter fraud during the November 8 election, which was the country’s second general election since the end of military rule in 2011.
US ‘alarmed’ by situation in Myanmar, urges military to release detained leaders
The United States on Sunday (local time) said it is alarmed by reports that the Myanmar military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma, vowing to take action against those responsible. In a statement, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that Washington opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar‘s democratic transition. US President Joe Biden has been briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
The White House statement comes hours after it was reported Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior officials had been detained by the military on early Monday. “The US is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma. President Biden has been briefed by NSA,” the statement read.
The White House urged the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law and to release those detained today.
“We continue to affirm our strong support for Burma’s democratic institutions and in coordination with our regional partners, urge the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law, and to release those detained today,” the statement read.
“The US opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar‘s democratic transition and will take action against those responsible if these steps aren’t reversed. We’re monitoring the situation closely and stand with the people of Burma,” it added.
Expressing “deep concerns” at reports that Myanmar military is seeking to seize control of the country, Australia on Monday called on the army to respect the rule of law and release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Canberra strongly supports the peaceful reconvening of the National Assembly, consistent with the results of the November 2020 general election.
