Military vehicles are seen along a road in Mandalay as Myanmar’s generals appeared in firm control a day after a surgical coup that saw Suu Kyi detained. — AFP photo
YANGON: The party of Myanmar’s toppled leader Aung San Suu Kyi demanded her immediate release Tuesday, after a military coup that triggered international condemnation and sanctions threats from the new US president.
Armed troops patrolled the capital, Naypyidaw, where Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy party leaders were detained in pre-dawn raids on Monday just ahead of the scheduled resumption of parliament.
Soldiers were also stationed yesterday outside the dormitories for parliamentarians in Naypyidaw, with one NLD MP describing it as “an open-air detention centre”.
“We are not allowed to go outside,” she told AFP by telephone, requesting anonymity for fear of the military. “We are very worried.”
Despite the intimidation, a statement was posted on the NLD’s verified Facebook page on Tuesday calling for Suu Kyi’s release, as well as President Win Myint and all detained party members.
“We see this as a stain on the history of the State and the Tatmadaw,” it added, referring to the military by its Burmese name.
It also demanded the military “recognise the confirmed result of the 2020 general election”.
By afternoon, a party officer said they still have not had direct contact with Suu Kyi, though a neighbour sighted the de-facto leader in her Naypyidaw residence.
“According to her neighbour we contacted, she walks sometimes in her compound to let others know she’s in good health,” NLD press officer Kyi Toe told AFP.
Most of the state ministers across Myanmar have been released from detention but are under house arrest, he said.
The military justified its seizure of power by alleging widespread fraud in elections held three months ago that the NLD won in a landslide.
It said it would hold power under a state of emergency for 12 months, claiming it would then hold fresh elections. US President Joe Biden led the chorus of global outrage, calling for a quick restoration of democracy and warning that Washington could reimpose sanctions.
“The international community should come together in one voice to press the Burmese military to immediately relinquish the power they have seized,” Biden said.
“The United States is taking note of those who stand with the people of Burma in this difficult hour.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the European Union and Australia were among others to condemn the coup. Britain summoned Myanmar’s envoy in formal protest.
But China’s response was less emphatic, with the official Xinhua news agency describing the coup as a “cabinet reshuffle”.
The United Nations Security Council was due to meet Tuesday for an emergency meeting.
Military rule
Myanmar’s November polls were only the second democratic elections the country had seen since it emerged from the 49-year grip of military rule in 2011.
The NLD won more than 80 per cent of the vote in November – increasing its support from the 2015 elections.
But the military claimed to have uncovered more than 10 million instances of voter fraud.
Although the military had flagged last week it was considering a coup, Monday’s events seemed to stun the country and power was seized extremely quickly. The military strangled the internet as the coup was unfolding, but eased restrictions later in the day.
On Tuesday, there were few signs of extra security in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city and commercial capital, indicating the generals’ belief that, for now, they faced no mass protests.
On Yangon’s streets, people voiced anger, fear and helplessness. — AFP
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