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The coup came a few weeks after tensions escalated between the military and civilian governments that had ruled the country for nearly five decades. The tensions arose from allegations of fraud in the November elections, which were easily won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD).
The army, which claims there were irregularities in the elections, hinted last week that it might take power.
Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were arrested in the capital Neipide the morning before dawn, NLD spokeswoman Myo Nyunt told AFP. Just hours later, parliament had to convene and expand its work for the first time since the elections.
“We have heard that they have been detained by the military … When the situation is what we are seeing now, we must assume that the military is giving a coup,” he said.
Late, the army declared a state of emergency on its television channel for a year.
In the former capital of the country, Yangon, which remains the commercial center of Myanmar, the soldiers occupied the mayor, reported an AFP reporter.
The Cayenne state prime minister and several other regional ministers were also arrested, party sources said.
The United States and Australia responded quickly to events in Myanmar, calling for the release of the detained NLD leaders and the restoration of democracy.
“The United States does not support any attempt to change the outcome of the recent elections or to impede Myanmar’s democratic transition and will take action against those responsible unless those steps are reversed,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
Australia has stated that Myanmar’s military “is once again trying to take control of the country.”
“We urge the military to uphold the rule of law, resolve disputes through legitimate mechanisms and immediately release all civilian leaders and other illegally detained persons,” said Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the arrest of Myanmar’s leaders during a military coup.
“The Secretary General strongly condemns the detention of State Councilor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other political leaders on the eve of the first session of Myanmar’s new parliament,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
“These events are a severe blow to the democratic reforms in Myanmar,” the statement said.
Limited communication
Within hours of the arrests of civilian leaders in Myanmar, communications in the country were restricted and several mobile networks were shut down.
The non-governmental organization NetBlocks, which monitors internet restrictions, reported a severe internet connection failure.
It was also not possible to call phone numbers in the capital, Neipide.
The Myanmar Banking Association said banks across the country were closed on Monday after the coup.
“All members of the Myanmar Banking Association must unanimously close their banks as of February 1,” the association said in a statement saying the decision was made due to poor internet connections.
The November vote in Myanmar was only the second democratic election since the country ended its 49-year military rule in 2011.
The election was won by a large majority in the NLD, who had to extend the reign of Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, for a further five-year term.
But the military has been complaining for weeks about the high number of irregularities in the elections, claiming to have identified more than 10 million. electoral fraud cases.
The military demanded that the government’s electoral commission publish lists of voters for verification, but the commission did not.
Last week, the army commander, General Min Aung Hlaing, who is probably the most influential figure in the country, said that Myanmar’s 2008 constitution could be “repealed” under certain circumstances.
Mino-Aung Hlaing’s comments, following rumors of a possible coup, further increased tensions in the country and prompted foreign embassies and the United Nations to issue warnings.
Previously, there were two coups in Myanmar after Britain’s declaration of independence in 1948: in 1962 and 1988.
Aung San Suu Kyi, a former symbol of democracy and Nobel Peace Prize winner whose international image has been shattered by her response to the Rohingya Muslim crisis, remains extremely popular in the country.
Due to her role as leader of the opposition, she was under house arrest for 20 years on and off until she was released by the army in 2010.
The US warns it will respond to the coup in Myanmar
The United States on Sunday called on the Myanmar military to release officials, including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Washington has warned that it will respond to the coup.
Suu Kyi and the country’s president have been arrested. Tensions between the military and civil authorities have increased in Myanmar in recent weeks. The army has accused the ruling party of electoral fraud.
“The United States opposes any attempt to change the outcome of the elections or hinder the democratic transfer of power in Myanmar, and if this action is not reversed, we will take action against those responsible,” said White House spokeswoman Jana Psaki. , it’s a statement. .
We call on “the armed forces and all other parties to defend the principles of democracy and the rule of law and release those arrested today,” he said.
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