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Myanmar military's television channel, Myawaddy News said on Monday that the military has taken control of the country for one year under a state of emergency. According to reports, many of the country’s senior politicians including the country's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained.
The military said it is handing power to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, while the Vice-President U Myint Swe will now temporarily serve as the President. Soldiers are on the streets of the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, and the main city, Yangon. Myanmar had been ruled by the military until democratic reforms began in 2011.
The Military's TV channel while making the announcement, cited a section of the military-drafted constitution that allows the military to take control in times of national emergency. They said the reason for takeover was in part due to the government’s failure to act on the military’s claims of voter fraud in last November’s election and its failure to postpone the election because of the coronavirus crisis.
The announcement came after days of concerns about the threat of a military coup and the military's denials.
Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained in the capital Naypyidaw before dawn on Monday, NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told, just hours before parliament was meant to resume for the first time since the elections. The party’s Central Executive Committee members, lawmakers and regional Cabinet members had also been taken into custody.
In Myanmar, access to TV channels, phone lines and internet services have been cut.There are reports that people in Yangon are rushing to get money from ATMs amid expectations of a cash crunch in the coming days. Some ATMs already appear to not be working and it's unclear whether banks will open.
In Yangon, the former capital that remains Myanmar's commercial hub, troops seized the city hall. Elsewhere, the Chief Minister of Karen state and several other regional ministers were also held, according to party sources, on the very day when the new parliament was to hold its first session.
The U.S., Australia and others issued statements expressing concern reports and urging Myanmar’s military to respect the rule of law.
Source: apnews.com, mmtimes.com, bbc.com, ndtv.com
Written by Siddhant Sharma
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