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The United States is “alarmed” by reports that Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested in a military raid, the White House said on Sunday.
President Biden has been briefed on developments in the Southeast Asian nation, which appear to be part of an attempt by the military to seize power.
“The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country’s democratic transition,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
“We continue to affirm our strong support for Burmese democratic institutions and… urge the military and all other parties to adhere to democratic standards and the rule of law, and to release those detained today.”
She added: “We are monitoring the situation closely and we support the Burmese people, who have already endured so much in their quest for democracy and peace.”
Burma is the old name for Myanmar.
The reported arrests of Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other senior ruling party officials in a raid on Monday morning came after days of escalating tensions between the civilian government and the military.
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Suu Kyi, 75, came to power in 2015 after a decades-long struggle against the military regime.
Under the country’s constitution, the military gets 25% of unelected seats in parliament and also controls three key ministries in Suu Kyi’s administration.
Military officials stoked fears of a coup last week after claiming that the November national elections were fraudulent and threatened to “take action”.
Myanmar’s electoral commission has rejected allegations of military electoral fraud.
With pole wires
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