Myanmar's coup leaders purge Suu Kyi govt., names 11 new ministerial replacements

Myanmar’s ruling junta, which detained the country’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi through a coup, has announced a purge against her government, removing two dozen ministers and deputies and naming 11 replacements.

The junta, led by Myanmar’s Commander in Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, took control of the country on early Monday after detaining Suu Kyi, President Win Myint as well as other senior figures from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party through a coup.

The shocking news was broadcast by the military's channel, Myawaddy TV, shortly after the military coup succeeded. The junta cited a section of the military-drafted constitution that allows the military to take control in case of a national emergency, declared a one-year emergency.

Later in the day, the same military’s channel announced that the junta had removed 24 ministers and deputies and had named 11 replacements in its so-called new administration.

The replacements, according to the announcement, are to be assigned for the portfolios of the finance, health, information, foreign affairs, defense, borders, and interior ministries.

Suu Kyi has already called on people in Myanmar to reject the coup, which has drawn worldwide condemnation.

Myanmar's military says has 'detained' Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling party have been detained in an early morning raid.

ASEAN urges dialogue, reconciliation in Myanmar

Separately on Monday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for its part, called on Myanmar to pursue “dialogue, reconciliation and the return to normalcy.”

“We reiterate that the political stability in ASEAN Member States is essential to achieving a peaceful, stable, and prosperous ASEAN Community,” the 10-member bloc stressed in a statement.

UN rights chief urges Myanmar military to free detainees

Additionally, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for the release of at least 45 people detained in the Southeast Asian country, expressing concern at Internet restrictions limiting freedom of expression “at this critical and frightening time.”

“I remind the military leadership that Myanmar is bound by international human rights law, including to respect the right to peaceful assembly, and to refrain from using unnecessary or excessive force,” she added in a statement.

Moreover, Reuters cited an unnamed diplomat as saying that the UN Security Council would aim to discuss the situation in Myanmar on Tuesday.

The Southeast Asian country, also known as Burma, was ruled by the armed forces until 2011, when Suu Kyi ended the military rule and introduced her reforms.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi urged people to 'resist' military coup before arrest

Myanmar

The military has accused Suu Kyi’s NLD party of massive voter fraud in the November election that gave it a landslide victory. Tensions grew after General Min Aung delivered a speech warning that Myanmar’s constitution could be “revoked” if it was not respected.

Suu Kyi, who won a Nobel Peace Prize 30 years ago for her resistance against the military and was held under house arrest for 15 years, faces international scrutiny for her support for a military crackdown against the Rohingya Muslim people in the western state of Rakhine.

She defended the military atrocities against the Rohingya people at the UN’s top court in the Hague in December 2019.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk