Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar’s civilian government, has been taken into custody in a raid early on Monday morning. Other members of the ruling National League for Democracy have also been detained, according to local reports.
The moves follow a flare-up of tension between the country’s powerful army and the nominally in-charge civilian rulers. The developments may be the first stages of a military coup and there is reported to be military build-up around Yangon.
Myo Myunt, a spokesman for the NLD, confirmed to the Reuters news agency that Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other leaders, had been “taken.” He urged the population not to escalate the problem. “I want to tell our people not to act rashly and I want them to act according to the law.” The army has not yet made any comment on the detentions.
There are also multiple reports that mobile internet and phone connections have been interrupted in capital city Naypidaw, main city Yangon and other provinces. The country’s state broadcaster said that it is unable to provide regular TV and radio broadcasts. Other, unconfirmed reports say that several journalists have also been detained.
In 2015, the military junta honored the result of elections and allowed civilians to nominally head the country, albeit under strict controls. In power, Suu Kyi has disappointed many of her supporters in democratic countries. She has refused to condemn the country’s military for a brutal campaign against the Rohyinga Muslim minority population, that many analysts say amounts to genocide.
Her silence had helped her stay in power, however. And in the November 2020 elections her party was able to increase its parliamentary majority. The proxy party for the military was reduced to just 33 seats out of the 476 in parliament. The past two months have seen tensions grow as the military claimed that the election was fraudulent.
Some commentators have been quick to point out that a military takeover need not be illegal or classified as a ‘coup.’ That’s because the country’s constitution is a creation of the military and should be understood as a hybrid that combines democratic elements and reserves large powers for the military. This is especially the case when a state of emergency is declared.
Suu Kyi was for 15 years a political prisoner, held under house arrest by the army. But even with her liberty restricted, she appeared to be a tireless campaigner for, civilian rule and attracted global attention for her calls for peace and democracy. She was celebrated in the Luc Besson-directed drama “The Lady,” with Michelle Yeoh in the starring role.
More to follow.