Washington: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday called on the Myanmar military to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in the democratic elections on November 8, 2020.
In a statement, Blinken said, "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."
Expressing concern over the incident, Blinken said, "The United States expresses grave concern and alarm regarding reports that the Burmese military has detained multiple civilian government leaders, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and civil society leaders."
Moreover, he advised the military to reverse the actions and extended the support to Burmese people in their aspirations for democracy, freedom, peace, and development.
"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," read the statement.
Read:| India urges Myanmar to uphold democracy after coup
The detention of Myanmar leaders comes in wake of the tensions between the government and the military stoking fears of a coup. The country was under military rule till 2011. Suu Kyi spent many years under house arrest, according to media reports.
On the other hand, expressing "deep concerns" at reports that Myanmar military is seeking to seize control of the country, Australia on Monday called on the army to respect the rule of law and release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully.
In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Canberra strongly supports the peaceful reconvening of the National Assembly, consistent with the results of the November 2020 general election.
Earlier it was reported that Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and other senior officials had been detained by the military in early morning raids.
"The Australian Government is deeply concerned at reports the Myanmar military is once again seeking to seize control of Myanmar and has detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint," the statement read.
Asserting that Australia is a long-standing supporter of Myanmar and its democratic transition, Payne said: "We call on the military to respect the rule of law, to resolve disputes through lawful mechanisms and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully."
"We strongly support the peaceful reconvening of the National Assembly, consistent with the results of the November 2020 general election," she added.
Earlier, the United States also reacted to the situation in Myanmar saying it is alarmed by reports that the Myanmar military has taken steps to undermine the country's democratic transition, including the arrest of Suu Kyi and other civilian officials in Burma.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday condemned the military coup in Myanmar, where prominent civilian leaders were detained.
Boris, in a Twitter post, said, "I condemn the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar. The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released."
Earlier, the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency in the country for one year, following the coup, where Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other senior officials have been detained by the military.
The state power has been handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing, while Myanmar's first Vice-President Myint Swe will serve as the acting president of the country.
Telecommunications in the capital city of Naypyitaw and some other regions and states are also being cut off.
The newly-elected lower house of the parliament was due to convene on Monday, however, the military called for a postponement.
Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato on Monday called for the release of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other related figures detained in a takeover attempt by Myanmar's military.
Kato told reporters Japan has been strongly supporting the democratization process in Myanmar, including suggesting the issues on last year's general election should be solved by dialogue.
Myanmar military television said Monday the military was taking control of the country for one year, while reports said many of the country's senior politicians, including Suu Kyi, had been detained.
The takeover is a sharp reversal of the partial yet significant progress toward democracy that Myanmar made in recent years following five decades on the military rule and international isolation that began in 1962.
Bangladesh also condemned the military coup in Myanmar, where prominent civilian leaders were detained.
An official statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Bangladesh firmly adheres to and promotes democratic ethos. We hope that the democratic process and constitutional arrangements will be upheld in Myanmar. As an immediate and friendly neighbour, we would like to see peace and stability in Myanmar."
Earlier, the Myanmar military declared a state of emergency in the country for one year, following the coup, where Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other senior officials have been detained by the military.
The state power has been handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing, while Myanmar's first Vice-President Myint Swe will serve as the acting president of the country.
Telecommunications in the capital city of Naypyitaw and some other regions and states are also being cut off.
The newly-elected lower house of the parliament was due to convene on Monday, however, the military called for a postponement.
Bangladesh in its statement also urged for the process of repatriation of the refugees to continue.
Around 1 million Rohingyas, who fled from their native Myanmar in 2018 to escape atrocities from the armed forces, are living in refugee camps across the world, mostly in Dhaka.
"We have been persistent in developing mutually beneficial relations with Myanmar and have been working with Myanmar for the voluntary, safe and sustained repatriation of the Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh. We expect these processes to continue in right earnest," the statement added.
(with inputs from agencies)
