Myanmar military on Monday declared a state of emergency in the country for one year, hours after detaining civilian leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. India said it is monitoring the situation closely and called for restoration of democratic process.
The state-run Radio and Television (MRTV) announced on its social media page that it was no longer working on Monday morning, Xinhua reported. Telecommunications in the capital city of Naypyitaw and some other regions and states are also being cut off.
In the early morning raids, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other senior officials have been detained by the military.
Myo Nyunt, spokesperson of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) told Xinhua: “I received internal reports about our state counsellor and the president being taken by the military. As far as I was informed, Shan State’s Planning and Finance Minister U Soe Nyunt Lwin, Kayah state’s NLD chairman Thaung Htay and some NLD representatives of the Ayeyarwady region’s parliament have been detained.”
“Two members of Central Executive Committee of the party were taken and I am also waiting to be detained as I was informed by our members that my turn will come shortly,” he said.
This comes in wake of the tensions between the government and the military stoking fears of a coup. The country was under military rule till 2011. Suu Kyi spent many years under house arrest, according to media reports.
The newly-elected lower house of the parliament was due to convene on Monday however the military called for a postponement. Media reports also suggest that telephone and internet lines in Naypyitaw, the country’s capital, have been suspended.
According to Sputnik, In January, Myanmar’s military raised the prospect of a coup d’etat after what they believed was widespread voter fraud during the November 8 election, which was the country’s second general election since the end of military rule in 2011.
India meanwhile issued a statement on the developments in Myanmar. “We have noted the developments in Myanmar with deep concern. India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring the situation closely,” MEA said. (With ANI inputs)