(Eagle News) — The United States government said it is “alarmed” over reports of the detention of Myanmar’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior officials of the country as it called on the Myanmar military to immediately release the officials it had detained.
“The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma,” a White House statement said.
US President Joe Biden has been already briefed by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan about the matter, the White House said.
“We continue to affirm our strong support for Burma’s democratic institutions and, in coordination with our regional partners, urge the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic norms and the rule of law, and to release those detained today,” the White House statement said.
-US warns it will take action-
“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,” it said.
The US government also said that it was monitoring the situation in Myanmar closely and stand with its people “who have already endured so much in their quest for democracy and peace.”
News channels have been cut off in Myanmar and internet connection were severely disrupted on Monday, Feb. 1, as the nation’s State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar President Win Myint, had been “detained” in the capital Naypyidaw.
Along with Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, the chief minister of Karen state and several other regional ministers were also held, on the very day when the new parliament was to hold its first session.
The dramatic escalation came after weeks of rising tensions between the military, which ruled the country for nearly five decades, and the civilian government over allegations of fraud in November’s elections.
All news channels were also blocked in Myanmar, said reports from various news channels including Channel News Asia, CNN and BBC.
The military last week refused to rule out seizing power to settle its claims of irregularities in the polls, which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won easily.
(with a report from Eagle News correspondent Elle Aguilar, Eagle News Service)