Myanmar leader detained; military takes over in coup

HONG KONG — Myanmar’s military said Monday it took control of the country and declared a state of emergency for a year, hours after detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her ruling National League for Democracy in a predawn operation, staging a coup against the democratically elected government.

The raids came hours before a new session of parliament was scheduled to open and members who won the November elections were set to take their seats. Ms. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won those elections in a landslide, capturing 396 of 476 seats. It was Myanmar’s second democratic election since the country’s fragile transition from military rule to democracy.

NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt told The Washington Post that Ms. Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and all chief ministers from their party

— representing more than a dozen states and regions in the country — were taken at gunpoint. A spokesman for his party was also detained, he said.

“I expect that soldiers will arrive for me soon,” Myo Nyunt said. “This is very likely a coup, but we hope that there will also be negotiation between our leaders and the military.”

Several hours after the raids, the military said in a television broadcast that a state of emergency had been declared in Myanmar and power would be transferred to the commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing.

The sweep included other prominent democracy activists who have been fighting against military rule for decades and leaders of other political parties, according to reports.

Communications appeared to be down or patchy in Naypyitaw, Myanmar’s capital, as well as Yangon, the country’s largest city and commercial hub. The state-run broadcaster Myanmar Radio and Television said in a Facebook post it was not able to broadcast “due to communication problems.” Websites were also down; the internet-monitoring service Netblocks said national connectivity had fallen to 75% of normal levels.

The military has alleged voter fraud in the November vote, but Myanmar’s election commission has said there is no evidence to support its claims. The military’s proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, alleged voter fraud after winning 33 seats.

In a statement late Sunday from Washington, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the United States was alarmed by the reports and urged Myanmar’s military to adhere to the rule of law and release those detained — or face consequences.

“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,” Ms. Psaki said.