Myanmar Coup: Jonathan Calls For Release Of Aung San Suu Kyi

Nigeria’s former President Goodluck Jonathan has called for a return to democratic rule following a military coup in Myanmar.

The country’s military seized power after detaining Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other democratically elected leaders.

Theeditorngr.com gathered that the military struck after weeks of conflicts between the armed forces and the government at the end of parliamentary elections which the army sponsored opposition candidate lost to the ruling party.

Following the coup, the Commander-In-Chief of Myanmar’s military, Min Aung Hlaing, took over power. The Army commander and new leader subsequently declared a one-year state of emergency.

Troops from different formations, including the Police have been patrolling several streets in major cities, while communications were restricted.

The landslide victory of Ms Suu Kyi’s party in the parliamentary election was claimed by the army to be marred by fraud.

There is tension in the city as residents rush to the ATM machines across the cities to make hasty withdrawals as the crisis lingers.

In a tweet on Monday, Dr. Jonathan urged the military to release the counsellor and return the country to democratic rule.

“I call for the unconditional release of Myanmar’s democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.
“I stand in solidarity with democracy all over the world, and call for a return to constitutional order in Myanmar,” he said.

Suu Kyi, in a letter written in preparation for her impending detention, urged her supporters to “not accept this” and “protest against the coup”.

The military has already announced replacements for a number of ministers.

A 25-year-old resident, who pleaded anonymity, told the BBC: “Waking up to learn your world has been completely turned upside down overnight was not a new feeling, but a feeling that I thought that we had moved on from, and one that I never thought we’d be forced to feel again.”