Page 6 - aruba-today-20210202

A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 2 February 2021
Myanmar’s military takes power in coup, detains Suu Kyi

NAYPYITAW, Myanmar reforms,” according to his
(AP) — Myanmar’s military spokesman. The Security
staged a coup Monday Council will hold an emer-
and detained senior politi- gency meeting on the mili-
cians including Nobel lau- tary’s actions — probably
reate Aung San Suu Kyi a on Tuesday, according
sharp reversal of the sig- to Britain, which currently
nificant, if uneven, prog- holds the council presiden-
ress toward democracy cy.
the Southeast Asian nation The U.N. high commissioner
has made following five de- for human rights said in a
cades of military rule. statement that, in addition
An announcement read on to politicians, the people
military-owned Myawaddy detained included human
TV said Commander-in- rights defenders, journalists
Chief Senior Gen. Min Aung and activists.
Hlaing would be in charge In addition to announc-
of the country for one year. ing that the commander
It said the seizure was nec- in chief would be charge,
essary because the gov- the military TV report said
ernment had not acted Vice President Myint Swe
on the military’s claims of would be elevated to act-
fraud in November’s elec- In this Oct. 15, 2017, file photo, Myanmar’s Vice President Myint Swe, left, sits with State Counsellor ing president. Myint Swe
tions in which Suu Kyi’s rul- Aung San Suu Kyi, right, and then President Htin Kyaw, for a photo session after the second is a former general best
ing party won a majority of anniversary of the signing of nationwide ceasefire agreement at the Myanmar International known for leading a brutal
the parliamentary seats up Convention Center in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. crackdown on Buddhist
for grabs — and because it Associated Press monks in 2007. He is a close
allowed the election to go home, Suu Kyi’s deference the future, at least in the of Suu Kyi’s party that once ally of Than Shwe, the junta
ahead despite the corona- to the generals — going so short term,” adding that adorned their homes and leader who ruled Myanmar
virus pandemic. far as to defend their crack- the generals do not want businesses. Lines formed at for nearly two decades.
The takeover came the down on Rohingya Muslims Suu Kyi to be a part of that ATMs as people waited to In a later announcement,
morning the country’s new that the United States and future. take out cash, efforts that the military said an elec-
parliamentary session was others have labeled geno- The first signs that the mili- were being complicated tion would be held in a
to begin and follows days cide — has left her reputa- tary was planning to seize by internet disruptions. year and the military would
of concern that a coup was tion internationally in tat- power were reports that Workers at some businesses hand power to the winner.
coming. The military main- ters. Suu Kyi and Win Myint, the decided to go home. The military justified its
tains its actions are legally The coup now presents a country’s president, had Suu Kyi’s party released move by citing a clause
justified — citing a section test for the international been detained before a statement on one of its in the 2008 constitution,
of the constitution it drafted community, which had os- dawn. Facebook pages saying the implemented during mili-
that allows it to take control tracized Myanmar while it Myo Nyunt, a spokesman military’s actions were un- tary rule, that says in cases
in times of national emer- was under military rule and for Suu Kyi’s party, told the justified and went against of national emergency,
gency — though Suu Kyi’s then enthusiastically em- online news service The Ir- the constitution and the the government’s execu-
party spokesman as well as braced Suu Kyi’s govern- rawaddy that in addition to will of voters. The statement tive, legislative and judicial
many international observ- ment as a sign the country Suu Kyi and the president, urged people to oppose powers can be handed to
ers have said it amounts to was finally on the path to members of the party’s Monday’s “coup” and any the military commander-in-
a coup. democracy. U.S. President Central Executive Commit- return to “military dictator- chief.
It was a dramatic backslide Joe Biden threatened new tee, many of its lawmakers ship.” It was not possible It is just one of many parts
for Myanmar, which was sanctions, which the coun- and other senior leaders to confirm who posted the of the charter that ensured
emerging from decades try had previously faced. had also been taken into message as party members the military could main-
of strict military rule and For some, Monday’s take- custody. were not answering phone tain ultimate control over
international isolation that over was seen as confirma- Television signals were cut calls. the country. The military
began in 1962. It was also a tion that the military holds across the country, as was The military’s actions also is allowed to appoint its
shocking fall from power for ultimate power despite phone and internet access received international members to 25% of seats in
Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace lau- the veneer of democracy. in Naypyitaw, the capi- condemnation and many Parliament and it controls
reate who had lived under New York-based Human tal, while passenger flights countries called for the re- of several key ministries in-
house arrest for years as she Rights Watch has previously were grounded. Phone lease of the detained lead- volved in security and de-
tried to push her country to- described the clause in the service in other parts of the ers. U.S. President Biden fense.
ward democracy and then constitution that the military country was also reported called the military’s ac- In November polls, Suu Kyi’s
became its de facto leader invoked as a “coup mech- down, though people were tions “a direct assault on party captured 396 out of
after her National League anism in waiting.” still able to use the internet the country’s transition to 476 seats up for actual elec-
for Democracy won elec- The embarrassingly poor in many areas. democracy and the rule of tion in the lower and upper
tions in 2015. showing of the military- As word of the military’s law” and said Washington houses of Parliament.
While Suu Kyi had been backed party in the No- actions spread in Yangon, would not hesitate to re- The military has charged
a fierce antagonist of the vember vote may have the country’s biggest city, store sanctions. that there was massive
army while under house been the spark. there was a growing sense “The United States will stand fraud in the election —
arrest, since her release Larry Jagan, an indepen- of unease among residents up for democracy wher- particularly with regard
and return to politics, she dent analyst, said the take- who earlier in the day had ever it is under attack,” he to voter lists though it has
has had to work with the over was just a “pretext for packed into tea shops for said in a statement. not offered any convinc-
country’s generals, who the military to reassert their breakfast and went about U.N. Secretary-General ing evidence. The state
never fully gave up power. full influence over the po- their morning shopping. Antonio Guterres called Union Election Commis-
While the 75-year-old has litical infrastructure of the By midday, people were re- the developments a “seri- sion last week rejected its
remained wildly popular at country and to determine moving the bright red flags ous blow to democratic allegations.q