A banner erected in support of Aung San Suu Kyi.
3 February 2021
UPDATE
Myanmar police have filed charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly illegally importing walkie-talkies and she will be detained until Feb 15, according to a police document seen by Reuters on Wednesday (3 Feb 2021).
Deposed President Win Myint has also been charged with violating rules banning gatherings during the Covid pandemic. He has also been remanded in custody for two weeks.
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1 February 2021
Myanmar’s military took power on Monday (1 February 2021) and declared emergency for one year. Military-owned television said that power had been handed to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD won November’s elections by a landslide, but the military has been waging a months-long campaign to discredit the outcome. But the army did not provide any evidence wrongdoing.
People in Yangon had begun flying the NLD’s red flag from their balconies in solidarity with the governing party, while banners had also been erected in the streets declaring support for the elected government. The city remained relatively quiet and calm, but people flocked to buy supplies like rice, eggs, and vegetables. Mobile internet data and phone services in the NLD stronghold were disrupted. State TV went off the air. Soldiers had taken up positions at city hall.
After the independence in 1948, the first military rule began in 1958. Ne Win captured power through a coup d’état in 1962, thereafter Myanmar came under military dictatorship until 2011.
Monday’s developments were condemned by the United States and Australia.
“The United States 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 are not reversed,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said in a statement, “We call on the military to respect the rule of law, to resolve disputes through lawful mechanisms and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully.”
Aljazeera and Channel News Asia reported.
