Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been “arrested” by the army, a spokeswoman for her party, the National League for Democracy, told Agence France-Presse on Monday (February 1st). “We have heard that she is being held in Naypyidaw (the country’s capital, editor’s note), we assume that the army is organizing a coup,” Myo Nyunt said. Other party officials were also arrested, he said. Asked by Agence France-Presse, the army spokesperson was not immediately available.
The military have been denouncing for several weeks fraud during the legislative elections in November, won overwhelmingly by the NLD. These arrests come as the Parliament resulting from the last legislative elections was to begin its first session in a few hours. Under the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic, the elections “were neither free nor fair,” the army spokesman, Major General Zaw Min Tun, assured a press conference last week.
Concerns of embassies
The military claim to have identified millions of cases of fraud, including thousands of centenarians or minors. More than a dozen embassies, including that of the United States and the delegation of the European Union, had urged Burma on Friday to “adhere to democratic standards”, joining the UN in a chorus of international concerns on a possible coup.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, much criticized internationally for its handling of the Rohingya Muslim crisis but still adored by a majority of the population, won a landslide victory in November. It was the second general election since 2011, when the junta that ruled the country for half a century was dissolved. The army however retains a very important power, having control over three key ministries (Interior, Defense and Borders).
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
