The army’s takeover of power in a coup comes hours ahead of the parliament’s first sitting since the November elections which handed a majority to Suu Kyi’s NLD party [File: Yves Herman/Reuters]
By Virginia Pietromarchi & Mersiha Gadz, ALJAZEERA, Feb 1, 2021
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/1/myanmar-military-stages-coup-against-aung-san-suu-kyi-live
Myanmar’s military has seized power and declared a state of emergency for one year following days of escalating tension over the result of November’s parliamentary elections.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s de facto leader, President Win Myint and other senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party have been detained in the capital, Naypyidaw, on Monday.
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A video broadcast on military-owned television said power was handed to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, citing “huge irregularities” in November’s vote.
The power grab came as Parliament – in which the military is given 25 percent of the seats – was set to open in Myanmar.
Hello, this is Virginia Pietromarchi and Mersiha Gadzo giving you the latest updates.
Nobel committee ‘appalled’ by arrest of Suu Kyi
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has said it is “appalled” by the military coup and calls for the immediate release of Suu Kyi, president Win Myint and other political leaders.
The committee noted that Suu Kyi was handed the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of her brave struggle for democracy in Myanmar”, and “has continued to be a leading figure in developing democracy”.