Just hours ago, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, detaining ruler Aung San Suu Kyi and other top members of her political party, the National League of Democracy (NLD).
The army handed power to military general Min Aung Hlaing and declared a national state of emergency for one year, after which new elections will be held.
Coup: sudden seizure of power from a government.
Why Did the Coup Occur?
The army stated that the coup was executed in response to “election fraud.”
Last November, Suu Kyi and the NLD were democratically elected, but the army has since voiced concerns over voter fraud and criticised the government for not postponing the election amid the pandemic, even threatening to “abolish the constitution” just a few days ago.
Situation in Myanmar
Major cities have experienced disruptions in internet and phone services, including the capital Naypyidaw which has seen almost all communications cut, making it challenging to ascertain the situation in the country.
All passenger flights within the country have been shut down and banking operations were suspended.
Response
Suu Kyi has since called upon citizens to “protest against the coup by the military”. This statement, which was posted on her Facebook page, also condemned the military’s actions, stating that it went against the constitution and the wishes of voters.
Many world leaders have expressed alarm and condemned the actions of the military. Meanwhile, some supporters of the military have celebrated the seizure of power by parading in trucks.
Written by Kai-Ryn Tan
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