Myanmar’s military has seized power in a coup against the democratically-elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
There was panic-buying of food, military roadblocks in the capital Naypyidaw and a triumphant pro-army rally in Yangon in the hours after a coup in Myanmar.
But there was also quiet anger simmering among those whose hopes for the country’s democratic future have been stolen.
“It’s extremely upsetting – I don’t want the coup,” said a 64-year-old Burmese man in Hlaing township, standing with a crowd outside a grocery stall.
“I have seen many transitions in this country and I was looking forward to a better future,” he added, declining to provide a name for fear of repercussions.
A putsch had been expected for days, yet when it came it left Myanmar stunned – with roads to its main international airport blocked and communications cut – a country once more isolated from a world it only rejoined a decade ago.
The military detained 75-year-old de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with President Win Myint and other party figures and activists early on Monday – hours before a newly elected parliament dominated by her National League for Democracy (NLD) party was expected to take its seats for the first time since November polls.
The military then declared it had taken control of Myanmar for one year under a state of emergency.
Former general Myint Swe was appointed acting president – sinking the country back into direct military rule after barely a decade-long experiment with democracy.
Myanmar’s November vote was only the second democratic election the country had seen since it emerged from the 49-year grip of military rule in 2011.
Fear spread as internet and mobile services were pulled by authorities across the country.
In Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital, people rushed to their neighbourhood grocery stores to stock up on rice, oil and instant noodles as banks were temporarily closed by the communications freeze.
But aside from police, uniformed men were few and far between in the city, and no blood was shed.
The guns, tanks and helicopters were further north around Naypyidaw, where armoured vehicles blocked off major roads leading to parliament.
Suu Kyi remains an immensely popular figure in Myanmar despite her international reputation being deeply tarnished over a crackdown on the country’s stateless Rohingya minority in 2017.
Her NLD party won over 80 per cent of parliamentary seats available – a seemingly unacceptable number to a military that still held key government posts, retained power over all defence and security decisions, and had 25 per cent of seats ring-fenced for them.
Yangon filmmaker Lamin Oo said he was “shocked” but unsurprised after a week of coup rumblings.
“I take my chance to vote very seriously because this can happen in this country,” the 35-year-old told AFP, adding that his neighbourhood is Yankin Township is trying to stay calm.
“I think we need to be prepared for the worst.”
Truckloads of pro-military supporters were spotted driving through Yangon’s main roads, waving the country’s flag while blaring the national anthem in an apparent resounding approval for the putsch.
A small group gathered near the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in downtown Yangon dancing to music booming from loudspeakers blaring the lyrics “We have bravely shown Myanmar’s blood”.
Another pro-military protest near Sule pagoda saw local and foreign reporters beaten up, according to videos posted on Facebook.
“This is too much… and an act of injustice,” an NLD MP told AFP requesting anonymity and explaining she was restricted in her official compound in Naypyidaw with scores of other lawmakers.
For weeks the military has raised allegations of voter irregularities, demanding the election committee release the voters’ list while army head Min Aung Hlaing made menacing statements about repealing the country’s constitution.
By Monday, the military had announced a year-long state of emergency, promising to hold new “free and fair general elections” and handover power at the end.
But the country – where pro-democracy protest movements have been crushed with army violence in the past – is on “a knife’s edge,” said independent analyst David Mathieson.
For the millions who voted for Suu Kyi’s party, they will be “enraged and fearful at a power grab that threatens to squander the gains of the past ten years.”
The NLD said the statement, which was uploaded on a Facebook page used by the party during its election campaign, was written before Monday’s coup had taken place. Reuters could not immediately reach NLD party officials for comment.
The actions of the military are actions to put the country back under a dictatorship,” said the statement, which carried leader Suu Kyi’s name but not her signature.
“I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military.”
The statement was issued by the party chairman Win Htein, who in a handwritten note at the bottom stressed it was authentic and reflected Suu Kyi’s wishes.
“On my life I swear, that this request to the people is Aung San Suu Kyi’s genuine statement,” wrote Win Htein, who could not be reached by Reuters.
Countries around the world condemned the overnight raids, called for Suu Kyi’s release and urged the military to respect the norms of democracy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the developments as “disappointing” and said Australia had, alongside other nations including Canada, the UK, the US, New Zealand and some EU countries, issued a statement on Friday opposing efforts to to alter the election outcome and urging the military and all parties to adhere to democratic norms.
The country continued to face many challenges as it attempted to shape its future, he added.
“We all hope for Myanmar. We all hope for what I know the Myanmar people want to achieve. I found them the most beautiful of people when I was there, so peaceful in nature but having suffered such terrible violence over the course of their nation’s history.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Myanmar military leaders to immediately release Suu Kyi and other detained officials and civil society leaders.
“We call on Burmese military leaders to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections on November 8,” Mr Blinken said.
“The United States stands with the people of Burma in their aspirations for democracy, freedom, peace, and development. The military must reverse these actions immediately.”
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato called on the parties concerned “to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue in accordance with the democratic process”.
Myanmar is a vital piece of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s $US1 trillion ($A1.3 trillion) vision for maritime, rail and road projects across Asia, Africa and Europe – including a proposed $8.9 billion ($A11.6 billion) high-speed rail link from southern Yunnan province to Myanmar’s west coast.
The country’s northwestern neighbour India said it was watching developments with “deep concern”.
“India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
A former UN rights investigator said Myanmar’s people would be forced to make “huge sacrifices” as a result of the military coup.
“It’s an assault to democracy, the fragile democracy that Myanmar already had,” said Yanghee Lee, a university professor in Seoul who previously served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar.
A coup in Myanmar six decades ago followed by over 50 years of military rule had “greatly regressed” the country’s democracy and civilian life, she added, and warned of a similar effect this time.
“It seems the citizens of Myanmar will once again make huge sacrifices through the coup.” sbs
