Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar State Counsellor, Detained by Military... Coup Possibility (Comprehensive)

▲Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar State Counsellor [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Myanmar's de facto leader State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and senior ruling party officials have been detained by the military. Following the ruling party's landslide victory in the general election held last November, there are suspicions that the Myanmar military, refusing to accept the results, staged a coup.

On the 1st, major foreign media including AFP cited a phone call with Myo Nyunt, spokesperson for the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), reporting this development.

Myo Nyunt said, "I heard that early this morning, State Counsellor Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained by the military in the capital Naypyidaw," adding, "Given the ongoing situation, it is presumed that the military has staged a coup."

He continued, "I hope the people do not react hastily and act according to the law," and added that he himself is expected to be detained soon.

Myanmar's state-run TV and radio announced via Facebook that they could not broadcast this morning due to technical difficulties. Some mobile and telephone services were also disrupted in the largest city, Yangon.

Major foreign media reported, citing witnesses, that soldiers were deployed outside the Yangon City Hall.

This incident occurred amid the military raising allegations of fraud regarding the results of the general election held last November and recently hinting at military action. When the UN and diplomatic corps expressed concern, the Myanmar military appeared to back down. However, it is presumed that they launched a sudden coup in the early hours of this day.

There has been no official statement yet from the Myanmar government or military.

The NLD, led by State Counsellor Suu Kyi, a symbol of Myanmar's democratization movement, won a landslide victory in the 2015 general election, ending 53 years of military rule since Ne Win's 1962 coup. The NLD also won 83.2% of the total elected seats in the general election held last November, opening the 'second term of civilian government.'

However, the military refused to accept this and has consistently raised allegations of election fraud, claiming that the voter list differs from the actual number by about 8.6 million since immediately after the November election.

Under the constitution established during military rule, the military is pre-allocated 25% of the seats in both houses of parliament and holds key positions such as heads of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defense, and Ministry of Border Affairs, maintaining strong authority.