Myanmar military television said that a state of emergency had been declared and the military has taken control of the country for one year. An announcer on military-owned Myawaddy TV made the announcement Monday morning.
The coup comes after tensions rose between the civilian government and the military following a disputed election. Myanmar, also known as Burma, was ruled by the military until democratic reforms began in 2011.
The military last week signalled it could seize power to settle its claims of irregularities in the polls, which National League for Democracy (NLD) party won easily.
In November’s election, Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won enough seats to form a government. She and President Win Myint have been detained under house arrest, reports said, as communications were cut to the capital.
Communications Restricted
In the hours after the arrests, communications networks in Myanmar were restricted, with several mobile phone networks down.
The developments triggered a quick response from the United States and Australia, with both calling for the release of detained NLD leaders and the restoration of democracy.
“The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki in a statement.
Australia said the military was “once again seeking to seize control” of the country. “We call on the military to respect the rule of law, to resolve disputes through lawful mechanisms and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully,” Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said.
