Myanmar’s military has seized power and declared a state of emergency for one year following days of escalating tension over the result of November’s parliamentary elections. Aung San Suu Ky, the country’s de facto leader, President Win Myint and other senior members of the National League for Democracy party were detained in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Monday.
A video broadcast on military-owned television said power was handed to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, citing “huge irregularities” in November’s vote. The power grab came as parliament – in which the military is given 25 percent of the seats – was set to open in Myanmar, also known as Burma. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Monday said it was deeply concerned about the situation in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the United Nations has also condemned the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and the political leaders in the country. “The Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other political leaders on the eve of the opening session of Myanmar’s new Parliament,” the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.
In a broadcast aired on its own television channel, Myawaddy TV, early on Monday, the military declared a one-year state of Emergency. It claimed that the move was made in order to preserve the “stability” of the state, following the “huge irregularities” in the election that took place in November, AFP reported.
