Myanmar NLD calls for release of its leader Suu Kyi and other detainees

Myanmar's National League for Democracy party on Tuesday called for the release of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairman Win Myint and other party leaders.  

The statement posted on Facebook comes a day after the military took control of the country while arresting senior politicians. 

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate's whereabouts were unknown for more than 24 hours after her arrest during a military takeover that ended Myanmar's democratic advance. Along with dozens of allies, she was detained in the capital Paypyidaw on Monday.

A senior official in her party said he had received news that she was in good health. He also learned that she would not be transferred from her place of detention. 

NLD official Kyi Toe said that there is no plan to transfer Aung San Suu Kyi and Dr Myo Aung to Daw and that they were known to be "in good health". He also said that the detained NLD parliamentarians arrested during the coup were allowed to leave the quarters where they had been held.

Monday's coup followed months of tensions linked to the November elections. Myanmar's military said there was electoral fraud, an accusation rejected by the country's election commission. It handed over power to its commander, General Min Aung Hlaing, and imposed a one-year state of emergency.

The UN Security Council was due to meet later on Tuesday amid calls for a strong international response to the latest military takeover in a country blighted for decades by army rule. And the United States threatened to re-impose sanctions on generals who seize power.

Min Aung Hlaing told the first meeting of his new government on Tuesday that it was inevitable that the army would have to seize power after its protests over alleged election fraud last year.

"Despite repeated requests from the Tatmadaw (army), this path was inevitably chosen for the country. Until the next government is formed after the next election, we have to run the country," Min Aung Hlaing said, according to the army information service. He added that the elections and the fight against COVID-19 were priorities for the junta. The NLD Executive Committee demanded the release of all detainees "as soon as possible".

For its part, the US called the crisis an attack on Myanmar's transition to democracy. "We will work with our partners throughout the region and the world to support the restoration of democracy and the rule of law, as well as to hold accountable those responsible for reversing Burma's democratic transition," Biden said in a statement.

In comments echoed by Australia, the European Union, India and Japan, the United Nations also condemned the coup and called for the release of the detainees. However, China did not join in the condemnation, saying only that it took note of the events and called on all parties to respect the constitution.

Telephone and communication lines were cut from early morning across the country. Telephone and Internet connections were re-established on Tuesday. In addition, banks reopened in Yangon.

However, Myanmar's international airport in Yangon will remain closed until April or even May, its manager, Phone Myint, told Reuters, without explaining why.