The military in Myanmar is getting public resistance against the coup. The biggest dissent so far, hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon. hundreds and thousands of demonstrators march through near Yangon university, they hold three-finger salute which symbolizes resistance to the army take over.

The military in Myanmar is getting public dissent against the coup

US under President Joe Biden may soon revoke the designation of Houthis in Yemen as terrorists. Donald Trump administration had given the terror tag on the very last day in power. Meanwhile Twitter has condemned Myanmar's move to block the platform. China's Tianwen-1 probe has snapped first images of Mars. Read this and more in WION's morning news brief.

 
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After the coup in Myanmar, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have been blocked

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US under President Joe Biden may soon revoke the designation of Houthis in Yemen as terrorists. Donald Trump administration had given the terror tag on the very last day in power.

US under President Joe Biden may soon revoke the designation of Houthis in Yemen as terrorists. Donald Trump administration had given the terror tag on the very last day in power. Meanwhile Twitter has condemned Myanmar's move to block the platform. China's Tianwen-1 probe has snapped first images of Mars. Read this and more in WION's morning news brief. US to revoke terrorist designation of Houthis in Yemen The United Nations describes Yemen as the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis, with 80% of its people in need. Twitter condemns Myanmar's move to block access to platform After the coup in Myanmar, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have been blocked Donald Trump should not receive intelligence briefings, Joe Biden feels When asked what was his concern about Trump getting the intelligence briefings, Biden said that he would "rather not speculate out loud" 'Pure anti-semitism': Israel's Netanyahu slams ICC decision and says will fight it Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the ICC as a 'political body' while the United States said it had 'serious concerns' over the decision World Health Organization says China granted it 'full access' for COVID-19 origin probe in Wuhan The visit by the WHO team took months to negotiate after China only agreed to it amid massive international pressure at the World Health Assembly meeting last May, and Beijing has continued to deny calls for a strictly independent investigation Mars ahead! China's Tianwen-1 probe snaps first photo of red planet The five-tonne Tianwen-1 includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a rover that will study the planet's soil Gravitas: The story of Alexei Navalny ×

Morning news brief: US to revoke Houthi terror tag, Twitter fumes at Myanmar, more

Twitter condemned Myanmar's move of blocking access to the platform. Myanmar is currently witnessing a crackdown on social media that has seen popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram getting blocked. This has come just days after a coup that has seen Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders imprisoned.

"It undermines the public conversation and the rights of people to make their voices heard," &nbsp;said Twitter on the decision to block the social media platform.

"We will continue to advocate to end destructive government-led shutdowns."

Telenor, one of the country's main telecoms providers, earlier confirmed that authorities had ordered a blockade to Twitter and Instagram "until further notice" on Friday.

Facebook was the first platform that saw issues on Wednesday, and by Thursday, Myanmar users had flocked to Twitter to spread a hashtag campaign against the military putsch with millions of mentions.

But around 10 pm local time (1530 GMT), on Friday they saw their Twitter acccess curtailed, with some saying it could not be used even with a VPN service.&nbsp;

Not able to meet Suu Kyi, says lawyer

Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer has said that he is not able to meet her. Veteran lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said that Suu Kyi and ousted Myanmar President Win Myint were being kept at their homes.

"We expect justice from the judge, but it is not certain. We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Of course, we want unconditional release as they have not broken the law," veteran lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters in the capital, Naypyidaw.

(With agency inputs)

Twitter condemned Myanmar's move of blocking access to the platform. Myanmar is currently witnessing a crackdown on social media that has seen popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram getting blocked.

Twitter condemned Myanmar's move of blocking access to the platform. Myanmar is currently witnessing a crackdown on social media that has seen popular platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram getting blocked. This has come just days after a coup that has seen Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders imprisoned. "It undermines the public conversation and the rights of people to make their voices heard," said Twitter on the decision to block the social media platform. "We will continue to advocate to end destructive government-led shutdowns." Telenor, one of the country's main telecoms providers, earlier confirmed that authorities had ordered a blockade to Twitter and Instagram "until further notice" on Friday. Facebook was the first platform that saw issues on Wednesday, and by Thursday, Myanmar users had flocked to Twitter to spread a hashtag campaign against the military putsch with millions of mentions. But around 10 pm local time (1530 GMT), on Friday they saw their Twitter acccess curtailed, with some saying it could not be used even with a VPN service. Not able to meet Suu Kyi, says lawyer Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer has said that he is not able to meet her. Veteran lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said that Suu Kyi and ousted Myanmar President Win Myint were being kept at their homes. "We expect justice from the judge, but it is not certain. We hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. Of course, we want unconditional release as they have not broken the law," veteran lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters in the capital, Naypyidaw. (With agency inputs)

Twitter condemns Myanmar's move to block access to platform

Blinken told Yang that the United States “will continue to stand up for human rights and democratic values, including in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong,”

Antony Blinken presses China on Myanmar, Uighurs in first phone call

An Australian economic advisor to Myanmar's deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained in the country following a military coup.&nbsp;

Macquarie University professor Sean Turnell is the first foreign national confirmed arrested by the new military junta since it took power on Monday after detaining Suu Kyi and other senior politicians from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

Turnell is a professor of economics at Macquarie University in Sydney and has been advising Suu Kyi on economic policy for several years.

According to BBC, it was unclear where Turnell was being held. Earlier he told BBC he was confined to his hotel.&nbsp;

Australia's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Saturday that it was "deeply concerned about reports of Australian and other foreign nationals being detained arbitrarily in Myanmar."

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her government had "serious concerns about an Australian who has been detained at a police station," without naming the professor. It added that the Myanmar ambassador had been called in over "reports of Australian and other foreign nationals being detained arbitrarily in Yangon".&nbsp;

Macquarie University said it was aware of reports of Turnell's arrest, adding it fully supported "both his work in Myanmar and the efforts of the Australian Government to secure his swift release".

Myanmar army generals, who seized power alleging fraud in a Nov. 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide, shut down the internet on Saturday as thousands took to the streets of Yangon to denounce this week's coup.

Also, on Saturday, several thousand protesters gathered in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne denouncing the coup and demanding the release of Suu Kyi.

Television and social media footage showed people wearing the red colour of the NLD, carrying portraits of Suu Kyi and singing "We Won't Be Satisfied Until The End Of The World", the Burmese language anthem from the country’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising, brutally put down by the military government.

They also yelled: "Down with the military dictatorship!" and&nbsp;waved&nbsp;red flags, the colour of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

An Australian economic advisor to Myanmar's deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained in the country following a military coup. Macquarie University professor Sean Turnell is the first foreign national confirmed arrested by the new military junta since it took power on Monday after detaining Suu Kyi and other senior politicians from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.

An Australian economic advisor to Myanmar's deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained in the country following a military coup. Macquarie University professor Sean Turnell is the first foreign national confirmed arrested by the new military junta since it took power on Monday after detaining Suu Kyi and other senior politicians from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Turnell is a professor of economics at Macquarie University in Sydney and has been advising Suu Kyi on economic policy for several years. According to BBC, it was unclear where Turnell was being held. Earlier he told BBC he was confined to his hotel. Australia's foreign ministry said in a statement late on Saturday that it was "deeply concerned about reports of Australian and other foreign nationals being detained arbitrarily in Myanmar." Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her government had "serious concerns about an Australian who has been detained at a police station," without naming the professor. It added that the Myanmar ambassador had been called in over "reports of Australian and other foreign nationals being detained arbitrarily in Yangon". Macquarie University said it was aware of reports of Turnell's arrest, adding it fully supported "both his work in Myanmar and the efforts of the Australian Government to secure his swift release". Myanmar army generals, who seized power alleging fraud in a Nov. 8 election that Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide, shut down the internet on Saturday as thousands took to the streets of Yangon to denounce this week's coup. Also, on Saturday, several thousand protesters gathered in Australia's second-largest city of Melbourne denouncing the coup and demanding the release of Suu Kyi. Television and social media footage showed people wearing the red colour of the NLD, carrying portraits of Suu Kyi and singing "We Won't Be Satisfied Until The End Of The World", the Burmese language anthem from the country’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising, brutally put down by the military government. They also yelled: "Down with the military dictatorship!" and waved red flags, the colour of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party. (with inputs from agencies)

Australian advisor to Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi detained

Myanmar lost access to Twitter on Friday night, the latest move to stifle dissent as the military widened an internet ban days after a coup that has drawn global condemnation and the threat of new sanctions. &nbsp;

De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained Monday and ousted from power, returning the country to military rule after a 10-year dalliance with democracy.&nbsp;

Facebook was the first platform that saw issues on Wednesday, and by Thursday, Myanmar users had flocked to Twitter to spread a hashtag campaign against the military putsch with millions of mentions.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-police-step-up-arrests-as-anti-coup-protests-grow-361588" hreflang="en">Myanmar police step up arrests as anti-coup protests grow</a>

But around 10 pm local time (1530 GMT), they saw their Twitter acccess curtailed, with some saying it could not be used even with a VPN service.&nbsp;

"Twitter is now being restricted in #Myanmar on multiple network providers," said NetBlocks, which monitors internet outages around the world.&nbsp;

It also confirmed that other Facebook products -- Whatsapp and Instagram -- were facing disruptions.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protests-erupt-in-myanmar-as-teachers-students-defy-military-rule-361521" hreflang="en">Protests erupt in Myanmar as teachers, students defy military rule</a>

According to a Ministry of Transport and Communications document seen by AFP but not verified, Twitter and Instagram were used to "spread incitement and false news... causing misunderstanding among the public".&nbsp;

"For the sake of the public and stability of the country, Instagram and Twitter will be temporarily blocked until further notice from February 5," it said.&nbsp;

Friday also saw around 200 teachers and students protest at a Myanmar university — the largest show of public dissent within the country so far.

Displaying the three-finger salute borrowed from Thailand's democracy movements, the protesters sang a popular revolutionary song.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-coup-unsc-expresses-concern-calls-for-aung-san-suu-kyis-release-361431" hreflang="en">Myanmar coup: UNSC expresses concern, calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's release</a>

"We have to resist this dictatorship," lecturer Win Win Maw told AFP.

"If all civil servants participate in this movement, it's not easy to operate this government system."

Hours before the rally, Win Htein, a key aide of Suu Kyi, was arrested at his daughter's house, said Kyi Toe, press officer for her National League for Democracy party.

The 79-year-old NLD stalwart, considered Suu Kyi's right-hand man, has spent long stretches in detention for campaigning against military rule.

Speaking to local media ahead of his arrest, Win Htein called on people in the country to "oppose (the coup) as much as they can".

While Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since she was detained on Monday, Kyi Toe said she's currrently "under house arrest" in Naypyidaw, the country's capital, and was "in good health".&nbsp;

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Yangon-based group that monitors political arrests in Myanmar, more than 130 officials and lawmakers have been detained.&nbsp;

'Hope broken'

With Facebook stifled on Wednesday, many people had moved to Twitter in recent days or started using VPN services to bypass the blockade.

After the Twitter restriction Friday, hashtags like #WeNeedDemocracy and #FreedomFromFear -- based on a famous quote by Suu Kyi -- started trending.&nbsp;

A so-called Civil Disobedience Movement has gathered pace online, calling on the public to voice opposition every night by banging pots and clanging cymbals to show their anger.

"I feel our hope is broken by the military after they seized power," said food vendor Thazin Oo, whose mobile phone case has a photo of Suu Kyi.&nbsp;

Police in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, detained more than 20 people for banging pots and pans. They were sentenced Friday to seven days in prison for violating a public disorder law.

Another four university students from Mandalay were charged Friday for protesting at a small rally the day before without permission and breaking coronavirus rules.&nbsp;

As they were escorted out of court in chains, they flashed a defiant three-finger salute to the waiting media.&nbsp;

In Naypyidaw, dozens of employees from several government ministries posed for group photographs wearing red ribbons and flashing the democracy symbol.

Some 300 MPs also held a virtual meeting Friday to convene an unofficial "parliament committee" in defiance of military rule, according to the NLD.&nbsp;

'Refrain from violence'

The coup has drawn condemnation globally.

On Thursday, US President Biden reiterated his call for the generals to reverse course.

"The Burmese military should relinquish power they have seized, release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions in telecommunications, and refrain from violence," he said.

His National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said the White House was "looking at specific targeted sanctions" on military-linked entities.

The UN Security Council took a softer line, voicing "deep concern" -- a step down from a draft Tuesday that had condemned the coup.

Diplomats said veto-wielding China and Russia, Myanmar's main supporters at the UN, had asked for more time Tuesday to finesse the council's response.

There have been calls on multinational companies working with Myanmar's military-linked businesses to cut ties as a way to pressure the generals.

Japanese beer giant Kirin -- long under scrutiny over its ties to Myanmar's army-owned breweries -- said Friday it was terminating a joint venture with a military-owned conglomerate.

Myanmar lost access to Twitter on Friday night, the latest move to stifle dissent as the military widened an internet ban days after a coup that has drawn global condemnation and the threat of new sanctions.

Myanmar lost access to Twitter on Friday night, the latest move to stifle dissent as the military widened an internet ban days after a coup that has drawn global condemnation and the threat of new sanctions. De facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained Monday and ousted from power, returning the country to military rule after a 10-year dalliance with democracy. Facebook was the first platform that saw issues on Wednesday, and by Thursday, Myanmar users had flocked to Twitter to spread a hashtag campaign against the military putsch with millions of mentions. Also read| Myanmar police step up arrests as anti-coup protests grow But around 10 pm local time (1530 GMT), they saw their Twitter acccess curtailed, with some saying it could not be used even with a VPN service. "Twitter is now being restricted in #Myanmar on multiple network providers," said NetBlocks, which monitors internet outages around the world. It also confirmed that other Facebook products -- Whatsapp and Instagram -- were facing disruptions. Also read| Protests erupt in Myanmar as teachers, students defy military rule According to a Ministry of Transport and Communications document seen by AFP but not verified, Twitter and Instagram were used to "spread incitement and false news... causing misunderstanding among the public". "For the sake of the public and stability of the country, Instagram and Twitter will be temporarily blocked until further notice from February 5," it said. Friday also saw around 200 teachers and students protest at a Myanmar university — the largest show of public dissent within the country so far. Displaying the three-finger salute borrowed from Thailand's democracy movements, the protesters sang a popular revolutionary song. Also read| Myanmar coup: UNSC expresses concern, calls for Aung San Suu Kyi's release "We have to resist this dictatorship," lecturer Win Win Maw told AFP. "If all civil servants participate in this movement, it's not easy to operate this government system." Hours before the rally, Win Htein, a key aide of Suu Kyi, was arrested at his daughter's house, said Kyi Toe, press officer for her National League for Democracy party. The 79-year-old NLD stalwart, considered Suu Kyi's right-hand man, has spent long stretches in detention for campaigning against military rule. Speaking to local media ahead of his arrest, Win Htein called on people in the country to "oppose (the coup) as much as they can". While Suu Kyi has not been seen in public since she was detained on Monday, Kyi Toe said she's currrently "under house arrest" in Naypyidaw, the country's capital, and was "in good health". According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Yangon-based group that monitors political arrests in Myanmar, more than 130 officials and lawmakers have been detained. 'Hope broken' With Facebook stifled on Wednesday, many people had moved to Twitter in recent days or started using VPN services to bypass the blockade. After the Twitter restriction Friday, hashtags like #WeNeedDemocracy and #FreedomFromFear -- based on a famous quote by Suu Kyi -- started trending. A so-called Civil Disobedience Movement has gathered pace online, calling on the public to voice opposition every night by banging pots and clanging cymbals to show their anger. "I feel our hope is broken by the military after they seized power," said food vendor Thazin Oo, whose mobile phone case has a photo of Suu Kyi. Police in Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, detained more than 20 people for banging pots and pans. They were sentenced Friday to seven days in prison for violating a public disorder law. Another four university students from Mandalay were charged Friday for protesting at a small rally the day before without permission and breaking coronavirus rules. As they were escorted out of court in chains, they flashed a defiant three-finger salute to the waiting media. In Naypyidaw, dozens of employees from several government ministries posed for group photographs wearing red ribbons and flashing the democracy symbol. Some 300 MPs also held a virtual meeting Friday to convene an unofficial "parliament committee" in defiance of military rule, according to the NLD. 'Refrain from violence' The coup has drawn condemnation globally. On Thursday, US President Biden reiterated his call for the generals to reverse course. "The Burmese military should relinquish power they have seized, release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions in telecommunications, and refrain from violence," he said. His National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also said the White House was "looking at specific targeted sanctions" on military-linked entities. The UN Security Council took a softer line, voicing "deep concern" -- a step down from a draft Tuesday that had condemned the coup. Diplomats said veto-wielding China and Russia, Myanmar's main supporters at the UN, had asked for more time Tuesday to finesse the council's response. There have been calls on multinational companies working with Myanmar's military-linked businesses to cut ties as a way to pressure the generals. Japanese beer giant Kirin -- long under scrutiny over its ties to Myanmar's army-owned breweries -- said Friday it was terminating a joint venture with a military-owned conglomerate.

Myanmar restricts Twitter as outrage over coup grows

Less than three weeks before Myanmar’s military overthrew its elected government, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, made a hastily scheduled visit to the country and heaped praise on its generals.

During a meeting with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief now in charge, the Chinese official expressed support for the military’s “deserved role in the course of national transformation and development.”

The coup d’état this week has thrust China back into the uncomfortable position it held for years with Myanmar: as the principal defender of a military dictatorship facing an international firestorm of criticism.

The coup has complicated a geopolitical struggle over a country that had only recently emerged from diplomatic isolation. China has sought to make it a pliant neighbor, while the United States has searched for the right mixture of pressure and encouragement to nurture a transition to democratic rule. It is also unclear how much any outside influence, from east or west, will sway the generals, whose bunkered mentality cut Myanmar off from the world for half a century.

The United States and others have called on the generals to reverse course, respect the result of fall’s elections and release the leaders they have detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi. “We will work with our partners to support restoration of democracy and the rule of law, and impose consequences on those responsible,” President Joe Biden vowed Thursday.

The United States, however, is not the dominant moral arbiter in world affairs that it once saw itself to be, and other forces in Myanmar could test Biden’s ability to forge coalitions to tackle foreign policy challenges, as he has promised to do.

While China remains Myanmar’s largest trading partner, its biggest foreign investor last year was Singapore. Japan, South Korea and Thailand have also poured money into the country, making it much less isolated than it was during the decades of military rule.

Japan joined the United States and other Group of 7 nations in condemning the coup, but it appears unlikely to support new sanctions against Myanmar’s military rulers, which the Biden administration is considering.

“It’s not just China and the West,” said Richard Horsey, a political analyst based in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital. “There’s another world out there, and that makes it much more complicated to figure out how to move forward.”

China, for now, has more leverage to shape events than the United States and other nations do.

The Chinese, along with the Russians, have so far blocked significant action on Myanmar by the United Nations Security Council, and Wednesday they complained about leaks detailing the deliberations there. A day later, the Security Council issued a statement that expressed “deep concern at the declaration of the state of emergency” in Myanmar and called for the release of those arrested.

In their public statements, the Chinese have gone to extraordinary rhetorical lengths to avoid even a hint of criticism, with the state news agency, Xinhua, referring to the coup as a “major cabinet reshuffle.” China’s refusal to denounce the generals could shore up their grip on power by deflecting some of the global condemnation.

“They consider it their sphere of influence, no doubt about it,” said Derek Mitchell, a former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar who is now president of the National Democratic Institute, an organization that promotes democracy. “They’re very wary of American influence in the country.”

The Chinese government, he added, sees the coup as “a moment of opportunity” to undercut the inroads the United States and other Asian nations made during Myanmar’s halting democratic opening.

The coup poses challenges of its own for China. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, had cultivated closer political ties with Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy. As Myanmar’s civilian leader, Suu Kyi visited China more than any other foreign country.

Xi went to Myanmar in January of last year — his last foreign trip before the coronavirus pandemic froze most travel — and signed a flurry of agreements, including railroad and port projects that are part of China’s “Belt and Road” program to expand its economic corridors to the Indian Ocean.

The fates of such projects are now shrouded in uncertainty, and the Chinese loathe uncertainty, said Bilahari Kausikan, a former Singapore diplomat who is the chairman of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore.

“They spent considerable energy, time cultivating Aung San Suu Kyi — with some success,” he said. “Now they have to start again with a new bunch of generals, and these generals are not just difficult for the West. They’re difficult for everyone.”

Although China defended Myanmar’s junta for decades, the relationship has been far from cordial.

Many of the generals spent their formative years battling communist rebels, who received generous, if covert, funding from Beijing. While ethnic insurgents are no longer part of the socialist brotherhood of that era, they still receive weapons and tactical support from China, according to senior members of ethnic armed groups.

When Xi visited Myanmar last year, the military complained to him about China’s financing of those rebel armies. The military justified its first coup, amid ethnic insurrections in 1962, as necessary to hold the country together, and ethnic strife in Myanmar’s borderlands has flared in recent months.

As Western sanctions hurt Myanmar’s economy in the 1990s, the military began to plan economic liberalizations that would free it from dependence on China’s largess, and it has defied its powerful neighbor in recent years.

In 2011, Thein Sein, a former junta member who headed a transitional government, suspended construction of a Chinese-backed dam that would have flooded a holy site while sending almost all the electricity it generated to China. The project remains suspended.

By contrast, Suu Kyi defended a Chinese-invested copper mine project that had been tainted by human rights abuses.

“If the military would make China the economic partner China wants to be, it would have done that before 2011,” said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington. “But under international isolation, the junta always felt China was exploiting them because they had no other options. That’s why they chose reform over China.”

When those reforms began, the United States saw an opportunity to show that democracy could flourish even in authoritarian soil. That led to high-profile diplomacy, including visits by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011 and by President Barack Obama in 2012 and 2014.

Those headlines soon faded. Suu Kyi, once an international human rights icon, generated outrage by refusing to condemn the military’s ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

Veterans of that starry-eyed U.S. outreach now hold prominent positions in the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Kurt M. Campbell, a former assistant secretary of state who now leads China policy at the National Security Council.

Myanmar, meanwhile, has changed significantly. China is no longer the only economic alternative to the West for the generals, as it was during the years of diplomatic isolation. Myanmar’s reforms led to economic — and, increasingly, political — links with other countries in Asia, especially Japan.

“They have a very good relationship with all sides in Burma,” Mitchell, using Myanmar’s former name, said of the Japanese.

A Japanese special envoy has been mediating between the military and an ethnic armed group in the western state of Rakhine, raising hopes that Tokyo’s delicate approach with the generals might get more results than sharp criticism from the West. Japan could also bring its economic influence to bear. Kirin, the Japanese beer maker, announced Friday that it would end its joint ventures with two companies in Myanmar over the coup.

China, for its part, has called for calm and stability in recent days, emphasizing that other countries should not interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs.

It is not clear if Wang, the foreign minister, picked up any signals that a coup was in the works when he visited Jan. 11 and 12.

As Xi had a year earlier, he met with both military and political leaders, reflecting the fragile balance of power before the generals retook full control.

During their meeting with Wang, held in a large, gilded room, Hlaing and other commanders complained about the elections in November that expanded the civilian government’s power, citing “mistakes and inaccuracies that could have led to electoral fraud,” according to a statement by the military.

Despite the economic agreements it reached with Suu Kyi, China has not signaled support for her. It appears to be calculating that there is little chance the coup will be reversed.

“China’s relationship with Myanmar is not dependent on who is in power,” said Sun of the Stimson Center. “Whoever in power will always need to work with China. The difference is with the quality of the partnership and the costs that China has to carry for it.”

Less than three weeks before Myanmar’s military overthrew its elected government, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, made a hastily scheduled visit to the country and heaped praise on its generals.

Less than three weeks before Myanmar’s military overthrew its elected government, China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, made a hastily scheduled visit to the country and heaped praise on its generals. During a meeting with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief now in charge, the Chinese official expressed support for the military’s “deserved role in the course of national transformation and development.” The coup d’état this week has thrust China back into the uncomfortable position it held for years with Myanmar: as the principal defender of a military dictatorship facing an international firestorm of criticism. The coup has complicated a geopolitical struggle over a country that had only recently emerged from diplomatic isolation. China has sought to make it a pliant neighbor, while the United States has searched for the right mixture of pressure and encouragement to nurture a transition to democratic rule. It is also unclear how much any outside influence, from east or west, will sway the generals, whose bunkered mentality cut Myanmar off from the world for half a century. The United States and others have called on the generals to reverse course, respect the result of fall’s elections and release the leaders they have detained, including Aung San Suu Kyi. “We will work with our partners to support restoration of democracy and the rule of law, and impose consequences on those responsible,” President Joe Biden vowed Thursday. The United States, however, is not the dominant moral arbiter in world affairs that it once saw itself to be, and other forces in Myanmar could test Biden’s ability to forge coalitions to tackle foreign policy challenges, as he has promised to do. While China remains Myanmar’s largest trading partner, its biggest foreign investor last year was Singapore. Japan, South Korea and Thailand have also poured money into the country, making it much less isolated than it was during the decades of military rule. Japan joined the United States and other Group of 7 nations in condemning the coup, but it appears unlikely to support new sanctions against Myanmar’s military rulers, which the Biden administration is considering. “It’s not just China and the West,” said Richard Horsey, a political analyst based in Yangon, Myanmar’s commercial capital. “There’s another world out there, and that makes it much more complicated to figure out how to move forward.” China, for now, has more leverage to shape events than the United States and other nations do. The Chinese, along with the Russians, have so far blocked significant action on Myanmar by the United Nations Security Council, and Wednesday they complained about leaks detailing the deliberations there. A day later, the Security Council issued a statement that expressed “deep concern at the declaration of the state of emergency” in Myanmar and called for the release of those arrested. In their public statements, the Chinese have gone to extraordinary rhetorical lengths to avoid even a hint of criticism, with the state news agency, Xinhua, referring to the coup as a “major cabinet reshuffle.” China’s refusal to denounce the generals could shore up their grip on power by deflecting some of the global condemnation. “They consider it their sphere of influence, no doubt about it,” said Derek Mitchell, a former U.S. ambassador to Myanmar who is now president of the National Democratic Institute, an organization that promotes democracy. “They’re very wary of American influence in the country.” The Chinese government, he added, sees the coup as “a moment of opportunity” to undercut the inroads the United States and other Asian nations made during Myanmar’s halting democratic opening. The coup poses challenges of its own for China. The country’s leader, Xi Jinping, had cultivated closer political ties with Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy. As Myanmar’s civilian leader, Suu Kyi visited China more than any other foreign country. Xi went to Myanmar in January of last year — his last foreign trip before the coronavirus pandemic froze most travel — and signed a flurry of agreements, including railroad and port projects that are part of China’s “Belt and Road” program to expand its economic corridors to the Indian Ocean. The fates of such projects are now shrouded in uncertainty, and the Chinese loathe uncertainty, said Bilahari Kausikan, a former Singapore diplomat who is the chairman of the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore. “They spent considerable energy, time cultivating Aung San Suu Kyi — with some success,” he said. “Now they have to start again with a new bunch of generals, and these generals are not just difficult for the West. They’re difficult for everyone.” Although China defended Myanmar’s junta for decades, the relationship has been far from cordial. Many of the generals spent their formative years battling communist rebels, who received generous, if covert, funding from Beijing. While ethnic insurgents are no longer part of the socialist brotherhood of that era, they still receive weapons and tactical support from China, according to senior members of ethnic armed groups. When Xi visited Myanmar last year, the military complained to him about China’s financing of those rebel armies. The military justified its first coup, amid ethnic insurrections in 1962, as necessary to hold the country together, and ethnic strife in Myanmar’s borderlands has flared in recent months. As Western sanctions hurt Myanmar’s economy in the 1990s, the military began to plan economic liberalizations that would free it from dependence on China’s largess, and it has defied its powerful neighbor in recent years. In 2011, Thein Sein, a former junta member who headed a transitional government, suspended construction of a Chinese-backed dam that would have flooded a holy site while sending almost all the electricity it generated to China. The project remains suspended. By contrast, Suu Kyi defended a Chinese-invested copper mine project that had been tainted by human rights abuses. “If the military would make China the economic partner China wants to be, it would have done that before 2011,” said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center in Washington. “But under international isolation, the junta always felt China was exploiting them because they had no other options. That’s why they chose reform over China.” When those reforms began, the United States saw an opportunity to show that democracy could flourish even in authoritarian soil. That led to high-profile diplomacy, including visits by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2011 and by President Barack Obama in 2012 and 2014. Those headlines soon faded. Suu Kyi, once an international human rights icon, generated outrage by refusing to condemn the military’s ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Veterans of that starry-eyed U.S. outreach now hold prominent positions in the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Kurt M. Campbell, a former assistant secretary of state who now leads China policy at the National Security Council. Myanmar, meanwhile, has changed significantly. China is no longer the only economic alternative to the West for the generals, as it was during the years of diplomatic isolation. Myanmar’s reforms led to economic — and, increasingly, political — links with other countries in Asia, especially Japan. “They have a very good relationship with all sides in Burma,” Mitchell, using Myanmar’s former name, said of the Japanese. A Japanese special envoy has been mediating between the military and an ethnic armed group in the western state of Rakhine, raising hopes that Tokyo’s delicate approach with the generals might get more results than sharp criticism from the West. Japan could also bring its economic influence to bear. Kirin, the Japanese beer maker, announced Friday that it would end its joint ventures with two companies in Myanmar over the coup. China, for its part, has called for calm and stability in recent days, emphasizing that other countries should not interfere in Myanmar’s internal affairs. It is not clear if Wang, the foreign minister, picked up any signals that a coup was in the works when he visited Jan. 11 and 12. As Xi had a year earlier, he met with both military and political leaders, reflecting the fragile balance of power before the generals retook full control. During their meeting with Wang, held in a large, gilded room, Hlaing and other commanders complained about the elections in November that expanded the civilian government’s power, citing “mistakes and inaccuracies that could have led to electoral fraud,” according to a statement by the military. Despite the economic agreements it reached with Suu Kyi, China has not signaled support for her. It appears to be calculating that there is little chance the coup will be reversed. “China’s relationship with Myanmar is not dependent on who is in power,” said Sun of the Stimson Center. “Whoever in power will always need to work with China. The difference is with the quality of the partnership and the costs that China has to carry for it.”

In geopolitical struggle over Myanmar, China has an edge

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday issued a press statement expressing concern over the developments in Myanmar and called for the release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.

UN Security Council calls for release of Suu Kyi, voices concern for Myanmar

Myanmar's military has said it will not leave even after a year. Elected legislators have defied the military by taking an oath of office. There is a Civil disobedience movement in Myanmar. WION's Palki Sharma brings you the latest.

Gravitas: Facebook blocked in Myanmar

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for release of all detainees in Myanmar. However, it has stopped short of calling it a coup. US President Joe Biden has pulled US out of the war in Yemen calling it a 'Humanitarian catastrophe'. Read this and more in WION's Morning News Brief

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unsc-stops-short-of-condemning-coup-in-myanmar-as-military-arrests-another-suu-kyi-aide-361430">UNSC stops short of condemning coup in Myanmar as military arrests another Suu Kyi aide</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unsc-stops-short-of-condemning-coup-in-myanmar-as-military-arrests-another-suu-kyi-aide-361430"><img alt="Myanmar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4ed7659c-4481-4526-8ed0-99535662f5d1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Myanmar.JPG" /></a> 
 
China had earlier called for all parties in Myanmar to "resolve their differences" even as the US and European nations condemned the coup.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/humanitarian-catastrophe-biden-pulls-us-out-of-yemen-war-stops-saudi-support-361436">'Humanitarian catastrophe': Biden pulls US out of Yemen war, stops Saudi support</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/humanitarian-catastrophe-biden-pulls-us-out-of-yemen-war-stops-saudi-support-361436"><img alt="US Yemen war" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="333121fe-2e6f-44ea-b62a-896b8bd536ea" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Biden_4.JPG" /></a> 
 
Biden also appointed US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking in a bid to ensure a ceasefire and revive peace talks between the government and Huthi rebels.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-continues-to-detain-student-protesters-despite-us-condemnation-361433">Turkey continues to detain student protesters despite US condemnation</a>

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The students are protesting against the government's decision to appoint Erdogan supporter Melih Bulu to head Turkey's prestigious Bogazici University last month

 
Gravitas: This statue has sparked outrage in Pakistan

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United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for release of all detainees in Myanmar. However, it has stopped short of calling it a coup. US President Joe Biden has pulled US out of the war in Yemen calling it a 'Humanitarian catastrophe'.

United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for release of all detainees in Myanmar. However, it has stopped short of calling it a coup. US President Joe Biden has pulled US out of the war in Yemen calling it a 'Humanitarian catastrophe'. Read this and more in WION's Morning News Brief UNSC stops short of condemning coup in Myanmar as military arrests another Suu Kyi aide China had earlier called for all parties in Myanmar to "resolve their differences" even as the US and European nations condemned the coup. 'Humanitarian catastrophe': Biden pulls US out of Yemen war, stops Saudi support Biden also appointed US special envoy for Yemen, Timothy Lenderking in a bid to ensure a ceasefire and revive peace talks between the government and Huthi rebels. Turkey continues to detain student protesters despite US condemnation The students are protesting against the government's decision to appoint Erdogan supporter Melih Bulu to head Turkey's prestigious Bogazici University last month Gravitas: This statue has sparked outrage in Pakistan ×

Morning news brief: Myanmar coup latest, US out of Yemen war, and more

The United Nations Security Council<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-backs-a-balanced-approach-on-myanmar-at-unsc-361185">(UNSC) </a>called for the release of all detainees even as the military government in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-military-coup-now-has-a-new-adversary-the-milkteaalliance-361350"> Myanmar</a> arrested a key aide of Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday.

Watch:

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UNSC, however, stopped short of condemning the coup after China and Russia's intervention who are the permanent member of the UNSC apart from Britain, France and the United States.

China had earlier called for all parties in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/activists-lawmakers-and-officials-147-people-detained-in-myanmar-since-coup-361391">Myanmar </a>to "resolve their differences" even as the US and European nations condemned the coup. US President Joe Biden in a stern message to the military asked the regime to "relinquish power" while demanding freeing of prisoners.

"There can be no doubt: in a democracy, force should never seek to overrule the will of the people or attempt to erase the outcome of a credible election," President Biden said, adding,"The Burmese military should relinquish power they have seized, release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions in telecommunications, and refrain from violence."

UN Secretary-General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-do-everything-possible-to-make-sure-myanmar-coup-fails-un-chief-361184">Antonio Guterres</a> had earlier said he would do &nbsp;"do everything we can to mobilise all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said that party stalwart Win Htein,79, was arrested as the crackdown on the party continued in the aftermath of the coup in Myanmar.

It is still unknown where Suu Kyi is detained who has not been seen in public since Monday when the military moved in to oust the democratic leadership and detained &nbsp;Myanmar president Win Myint.

The military had blocked internet services in the country on Thursday and restricted access to Facebook which is used by a majority of Myanmar population even as there were some reports of residents and NLD supporters hitting out against the military in Yangon.

The United Nations Security Council(UNSC) called for the release of all detainees even as the military government in Myanmar arrested a key aide of Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday.

The United Nations Security Council(UNSC) called for the release of all detainees even as the military government in Myanmar arrested a key aide of Aung San Suu Kyi on Friday. Watch: UNSC, however, stopped short of condemning the coup after China and Russia's intervention who are the permanent member of the UNSC apart from Britain, France and the United States. China had earlier called for all parties in Myanmar to "resolve their differences" even as the US and European nations condemned the coup. US President Joe Biden in a stern message to the military asked the regime to "relinquish power" while demanding freeing of prisoners. "There can be no doubt: in a democracy, force should never seek to overrule the will of the people or attempt to erase the outcome of a credible election," President Biden said, adding,"The Burmese military should relinquish power they have seized, release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions in telecommunications, and refrain from violence." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier said he would do "do everything we can to mobilise all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails." Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) said that party stalwart Win Htein,79, was arrested as the crackdown on the party continued in the aftermath of the coup in Myanmar. It is still unknown where Suu Kyi is detained who has not been seen in public since Monday when the military moved in to oust the democratic leadership and detained Myanmar president Win Myint. The military had blocked internet services in the country on Thursday and restricted access to Facebook which is used by a majority of Myanmar population even as there were some reports of residents and NLD supporters hitting out against the military in Yangon.

UNSC stops short of condemning coup in Myanmar as military arrests another Suu  Kyi aide

The 79-year-old NLD stalwart is a longtime political prisoner. He has spent lengthy periods in and out for detention for protesting against military rule.

Myanmar military arrests key Aung San Suu Kyi aide

US President Joe Biden has said that Myanmar's military must relinquish power and that it should release all the lawmakers and activists that it has detained.

US President Joe Biden calls on Myanmar's military to relinquish power

Citizens of Myanmar are reaching out to WION with requests for help. Our Executive Editor Palki Sharma reads some messages that we received.

Gravitas: Myanmar Citizens reach out to WION

The United States has said that it is 'deeply disturbed' by the charges that have been pressed against the leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

US: Military seizure is a direct assault on rule of law

Myanmar's police have filed charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for breaches of an import-export law and sought her detention until Feb. 15, according to a police document seen on Wednesday.

Myanmar military file charges against Suu Kyi for offences under import-export law

Canada has designated US far-right group 'Proud Boys' as a banned terrorist group. The authorities described the group a "serious and growing threat". Meanwhile, Myanmar military has blocked Facebook. UN chief has said that he will do everything possible to ensure that Myanmar coup fails. Read this and more in our morning news brief.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-military-clamps-down-on-internet-services-blocks-facebook-361183">Myanmar military clamps down on internet services, blocks Facebook</a>

<img alt="Myanmar coup" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c38e9ad0-bed1-4fad-bcf3-00f5b5404436" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/myanmar.JPG" />

Facebook acknowledged the disruption while urging authorities to restore internet connectivity in Myanmar.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-sends-top-envoy-to-russia-amid-alexei-navalny-controversy-361186">EU sends top envoy to Russia amid Alexei Navalny controversy</a>

<img alt="Alexei Navalny" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25e5ba68-405b-4798-8425-d2ec8adb4460" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nvalny.JPG" />

European Union foreign policy chief insists that he will deliver "clear messages" to the Kremlin

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-do-everything-possible-to-make-sure-myanmar-coup-fails-un-chief-361184">Will do everything possible to make sure Myanmar coup fails: UN chief</a>

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Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-designates-proud-boys-as-terrorist-group-cites-active-security-threat-361189">Canada designates 'Proud Boys' as terrorist group, cites active security threat</a>

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During the US presidential campaign, Trump and Biden had clashed over the conduct of Proud Boys after Trump said "Proud Boys -- stand back and stand by"

Why is Jeff Bezos stepping down?

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Canada has designated US far-right group 'Proud Boys' as a banned terrorist group. The authorities described the group a "serious and growing threat". Meanwhile, Myanmar military has blocked Facebook.

Canada has designated US far-right group 'Proud Boys' as a banned terrorist group. The authorities described the group a "serious and growing threat". Meanwhile, Myanmar military has blocked Facebook. UN chief has said that he will do everything possible to ensure that Myanmar coup fails. Read this and more in our morning news brief. Myanmar military clamps down on internet services, blocks Facebook Facebook acknowledged the disruption while urging authorities to restore internet connectivity in Myanmar. EU sends top envoy to Russia amid Alexei Navalny controversy European Union foreign policy chief insists that he will deliver "clear messages" to the Kremlin Will do everything possible to make sure Myanmar coup fails: UN chief Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids Canada designates 'Proud Boys' as terrorist group, cites active security threat During the US presidential campaign, Trump and Biden had clashed over the conduct of Proud Boys after Trump said "Proud Boys -- stand back and stand by" Why is Jeff Bezos stepping down? ×

Morning news brief: 'Proud Boys' declared terrorists, Myanmar coup, and more

At least 147 people have been detained in Myanmar since this week's coup, including activists, lawmakers and officials from the ousted government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Thursday.

The AAPP, which has tracked political detainees in Myanmar since the era of the previous junta, said 133 officials or lawmakers and 14 civil society activists were being held.&nbsp;

Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids.&nbsp;

The event ended Myanmar's brief experiment with democracy and took place days after Suu Kyi won the re-election with a strong mandate.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, a Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law.

The document from a police station in the capital Naypyitaw said military officers who searched Suu Kyi's residence had found hand-held radios that were imported illegally and used without permission.

President Win Myint, who was also detained by the military in Monday's coup, has also been charged under the National Disaster Management law.

The Group of Seven largest developed economies condemned the coup on Wednesday and said the election result must be respected.

Myanmar's military rulers have blocked access to social media platforms.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least 147 people have been detained in Myanmar since this week's coup, including activists, lawmakers and officials from the ousted government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Thursday.

At least 147 people have been detained in Myanmar since this week's coup, including activists, lawmakers and officials from the ousted government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said on Thursday. The AAPP, which has tracked political detainees in Myanmar since the era of the previous junta, said 133 officials or lawmakers and 14 civil society activists were being held. Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids. The event ended Myanmar's brief experiment with democracy and took place days after Suu Kyi won the re-election with a strong mandate. Meanwhile, a Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law. The document from a police station in the capital Naypyitaw said military officers who searched Suu Kyi's residence had found hand-held radios that were imported illegally and used without permission. President Win Myint, who was also detained by the military in Monday's coup, has also been charged under the National Disaster Management law. The Group of Seven largest developed economies condemned the coup on Wednesday and said the election result must be respected. Myanmar's military rulers have blocked access to social media platforms. (With inputs from agencies)

Activists, lawmakers and officials: 147 people detained in Myanmar since coup

India has called for a balanced approach on Myanmar at the United Nations Security Council meeting that took place on Tuesday even as the UK-backed draft is still being considered. New Delhi's balanced approach, which has been perceived as a very constructive one, calls for support for the democratic process in the country, given it is a neighboring country.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The UNSC has not yet been able to come up with any statement on the coup in the country when the meeting took place on 2nd February. In the aftermath of the bloodless coup staged by the military in Myanmar, India's Ministry of External Affairs in a statement had expressed its "deep concern", calling for upholding of the "rule of law and the democratic process".

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-do-everything-possible-to-make-sure-myanmar-coup-fails-un-chief-361184">Will do everything possible to make sure Myanmar coup fails: UN chief</a>

India has a close relationship with the country. While Aung San Suu Kyi's India connect is well known, including her education in India and through her father Aung San, New Delhi has been able to build close military cooperation with Myanmar's military--especially in terms of counter-insurgency operations in border areas. Last year, Myanmar inducted INS Sindhuvir which was given by India. It was inducted as UMS Minye Theinkhathu and is the country's only submarine.

UK is the president of the core UN body for this month and as the chair, decides on the key issues that can be raised and scheduling of the talks on global issues. UK Foreign secretary Dominic Raab in a tweet had said, "As President of the @UN Security Council we brought forward an emergency meeting on Myanmar to fast-track necessary discussions on what should be done."

The draft has called for the removal of the state of emergency and reinstatement of democratic norms, according to media reports quoting the leaked document. While UNSC is working on a common press statement on the coup in the country, especially in the face of differing views expressed primarily by China, it is expected that perhaps in the next stage, talks may resume to put more pressure if there is no progress. However, it is clear that forming a consensus on this contentious issue will be a difficult task. 
&nbsp;

India has called for a balanced approach on Myanmar at the United Nations Security Council meeting that took place on Tuesday even as the UK-backed draft is still being considered.

India has called for a balanced approach on Myanmar at the United Nations Security Council meeting that took place on Tuesday even as the UK-backed draft is still being considered. New Delhi's balanced approach, which has been perceived as a very constructive one, calls for support for the democratic process in the country, given it is a neighboring country. Watch | The UNSC has not yet been able to come up with any statement on the coup in the country when the meeting took place on 2nd February. In the aftermath of the bloodless coup staged by the military in Myanmar, India's Ministry of External Affairs in a statement had expressed its "deep concern", calling for upholding of the "rule of law and the democratic process". Also read | Will do everything possible to make sure Myanmar coup fails: UN chief India has a close relationship with the country. While Aung San Suu Kyi's India connect is well known, including her education in India and through her father Aung San, New Delhi has been able to build close military cooperation with Myanmar's military--especially in terms of counter-insurgency operations in border areas. Last year, Myanmar inducted INS Sindhuvir which was given by India. It was inducted as UMS Minye Theinkhathu and is the country's only submarine. UK is the president of the core UN body for this month and as the chair, decides on the key issues that can be raised and scheduling of the talks on global issues. UK Foreign secretary Dominic Raab in a tweet had said, "As President of the @UN Security Council we brought forward an emergency meeting on Myanmar to fast-track necessary discussions on what should be done." The draft has called for the removal of the state of emergency and reinstatement of democratic norms, according to media reports quoting the leaked document. While UNSC is working on a common press statement on the coup in the country, especially in the face of differing views expressed primarily by China, it is expected that perhaps in the next stage, talks may resume to put more pressure if there is no progress. However, it is clear that forming a consensus on this contentious issue will be a difficult task.

India backs a balanced approach on Myanmar at UNSC

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that he would do everything possible to put pressure on Myanmar and "make sure that this coup fails".&nbsp;

Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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The event ended Myanmar's brief experiment with democracy and took place days after Suu Kyi won the re-election with a strong mandate.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi-charged-with-breaking-importexport-law-361070">Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi charged with breaking 'import/export law'</a>

"We will do everything we can to mobilize all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails," Guterres told The Washington Post.

"After elections that I believe took place normally and after a large period of transition, it's absolutely unacceptable to reverse the results of the elections and the will of the people."

Speaking on the indictment of Suu Kyi, the UN Secretary-General said if she can be accused, it's for being "too close to the military" and for protecting "too much of the military".&nbsp;

"I hope that democracy will be able to make progress again in Myanmar but for that all the prisoners must be released, the constitutional order must be reestablished," Guterres said.&nbsp;

He also criticised the Security Council for its failure to issue a common statement on the coup after an emergency meeting was initiated by the UK.&nbsp;

The draft text that was proposed at the beginning of the week for negotiation and accessed by news agency AFP said that the Security Council would condemn the coup and ask the Myanmarese military to "immediately release those unlawfully detained."

It also demanded that the state of emergency for one year must be repealed.&nbsp;

As of Wednesday evening, negotiations are ongoing with 15 Council members, particularly with China and Russia, which blocked Tuesday's adoption of the statement.&nbsp;

 
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United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that he would do everything possible to put pressure on Myanmar and "make sure that this coup fails". Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that he would do everything possible to put pressure on Myanmar and "make sure that this coup fails". Myanmar again went back to military rule on Monday after soldiers detained de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political leaders in several raids. Watch | The event ended Myanmar's brief experiment with democracy and took place days after Suu Kyi won the re-election with a strong mandate. Also read | Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi charged with breaking 'import/export law' "We will do everything we can to mobilize all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails," Guterres told The Washington Post. "After elections that I believe took place normally and after a large period of transition, it's absolutely unacceptable to reverse the results of the elections and the will of the people." Speaking on the indictment of Suu Kyi, the UN Secretary-General said if she can be accused, it's for being "too close to the military" and for protecting "too much of the military". "I hope that democracy will be able to make progress again in Myanmar but for that all the prisoners must be released, the constitutional order must be reestablished," Guterres said. He also criticised the Security Council for its failure to issue a common statement on the coup after an emergency meeting was initiated by the UK. The draft text that was proposed at the beginning of the week for negotiation and accessed by news agency AFP said that the Security Council would condemn the coup and ask the Myanmarese military to "immediately release those unlawfully detained." It also demanded that the state of emergency for one year must be repealed. As of Wednesday evening, negotiations are ongoing with 15 Council members, particularly with China and Russia, which blocked Tuesday's adoption of the statement.

Will do everything possible to make sure Myanmar coup fails: UN chief

Internet providers in<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-blocks-un-security-council-statement-condemning-myanmar-coup-361052"> Myanmar</a> including state-owned telecom MPT have blocked access to Facebook services in the country. The crackdown on internet services comes days after military leaders seized power in a coup.

Watch:

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A letter posted online by the ministry of communications and information overnight said that Facebook will be blocked until &nbsp;February 7 "for the sake of stability".

The ministry's letter to telecom operators said that, "Currently the people who are troubling the country’s stability are spreading fake news and misinformation and causing misunderstanding among people by using Facebook."

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone acknowledged the disruption while urging authorities to restore connectivity "so that people in Myanmar can communicate with their families and friends and access important information."

Almost half of Myanmar’s 53 million people use Facebook which for many is synonymous with the internet. Meanwhile, &nbsp;Myanmar court charged Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law just days after the military coup in which several leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were detained.

A court in Naypyidaw had remanded Suu Kyi to 14-day custody including &nbsp;President Win Myint. The NLD had won the elections in November by a landslide, however, the military had accused the elections was riddled with voter fraud.

The US <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-in-touch-with-japan-india-in-the-aftermath-of-myanmar-coup-361010">State Department </a>said &nbsp;it was "disturbed" by the charges levelled on &nbsp;Suu Kyi, saying: "We call on the military to immediately release them all."

The Myanmar military had declared a one-year state of emergency soon after the coup on Monday.

Internet providers in Myanmar including state-owned telecom MPT have blocked access to Facebook services in the country. The crackdown on internet services comes days after military leaders seized power in a coup.

Internet providers in Myanmar including state-owned telecom MPT have blocked access to Facebook services in the country. The crackdown on internet services comes days after military leaders seized power in a coup. Watch: A letter posted online by the ministry of communications and information overnight said that Facebook will be blocked until February 7 "for the sake of stability". The ministry's letter to telecom operators said that, "Currently the people who are troubling the country’s stability are spreading fake news and misinformation and causing misunderstanding among people by using Facebook." Facebook spokesman Andy Stone acknowledged the disruption while urging authorities to restore connectivity "so that people in Myanmar can communicate with their families and friends and access important information." Almost half of Myanmar’s 53 million people use Facebook which for many is synonymous with the internet. Meanwhile, Myanmar court charged Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law just days after the military coup in which several leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) were detained. A court in Naypyidaw had remanded Suu Kyi to 14-day custody including President Win Myint. The NLD had won the elections in November by a landslide, however, the military had accused the elections was riddled with voter fraud. The US State Department said it was "disturbed" by the charges levelled on Suu Kyi, saying: "We call on the military to immediately release them all." The Myanmar military had declared a one-year state of emergency soon after the coup on Monday.

Myanmar military clamps down on internet services, blocks Facebook

A civil disobedience movement is brewing in Myanmar. Scores of people honked horns and banged pots to protest against the coup. Members of the medical fraternity wore a red ribbon to show support for Aung San Suu Kyi. WION's Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: A civil disobedience movement is brewing in Myanmar

A lot has been happening in and around India -- Pakistan wants to talk peace; China remains aggressive; Myanmar has seen a coup. And Sri Lanka has scrapped a key project with India.

The neighbourhood first policy will hence need a reboot.

Let's take a look.

PAKISTAN

The Pakistani army chief is talking peace. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said, "It is time to extend a hand of peace in all directions."

The message is not lost on anyone.

General Bajwa is talking about India here. You may wonder why this is significant.

Pakistan has offered to talk many times. And India has declined every invitation, citing its zero tolerance policy against terrorism.

What's different this time? It's the tone of the general.

Bajwa was at the graduation ceremony of Pakistan Air Force cadets.

He chose this opportunity to tone down the rhetoric.

"We stand firmly committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. Pakistan and India must also resolve &nbsp;the long-standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a dignified and peaceful manner as per the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring this human tragedy to its logical conclusion."

Pakistan follows a military doctrine of "bleeding India with a thousand cuts". Now its army chief is talking about "peaceful co-existence".

This could be an outreach.

Or simply an attempt to make the right noises before the FATF, or the financial action task force, sits down to review terror financing in Pakistan.

It is too soon to make any assessment. But with his words, the general has certainly caught New Delhi's attention. It may be time to review the stand.

India has tried everything with Pakistan.

The prime minister began his first term with his Pakistani counterpart in attendance -- the first of its kind invite. But we know how things went downhill from there.

Seven years on, it may be time to engage, and see what kind of pressure India can put on Pakistan to deliver.

It's a gamble. But India isn't spoilt for choice here.

MYANMAR

Min Aung La-ing is now saying the coup is legal and was inevitable. And the Western powers are in no mood to forgive.

The United States has classified the takeover as a coup. But China seems to be blocking any efforts to reinstate democracy in Myanmar.

Yesterday the United Nations Security Council failed to condemn the coup. Because China vetoed the statement.

At the same time, Beijing took offence when journalists asked if China had supported the coup. Or if it gave a tacit consent to military rule.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin to this end said, "Relevant theories are not true. As Myanmar's friendly neighbouring country, we wish that all sides in Myanmar can appropriately resolve their differences, and uphold political and social stability."

China rejects the suggestion that it supported the military takeover. But it still won't call what happened in Myanmar a coup. And it continues to cast a shadow over India's ties with its neighbours. Like Sri Lanka.

Colombo has now gone back on a deal it made with India and Japan.

The east container terminal deal agreement has been scrapped. It was signed in 2019.

India and Japan had joined hands with Sri Lanka. They had agreed to develop a strategic terminal at the colombo port.

India and Japan would have owned 49 per cent of the shares in the terminal.

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka issued a statement reminding Colombo that this was a trilateral agreement. The statement asks "all sides to abide by existing understandings and commitment".

But the Rajapaksas are unlikely to relent.

At the same time, a compensatory offer has been made. Reports say Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved another proposal -- to develop the western terminal at the Colombo port.

It remains to be seen how India will respond. And then there's one more neighbour orchestrating most of this trouble -- China.

It remains as difficult as ever.

Next time someone says 'love thy neighbour', think of India's lot.

A lot has been happening in and around India -- Pakistan wants to talk peace; China remains aggressive; Myanmar has seen a coup. And Sri Lanka has scrapped a key project with India.

A lot has been happening in and around India -- Pakistan wants to talk peace; China remains aggressive; Myanmar has seen a coup. And Sri Lanka has scrapped a key project with India. The neighbourhood first policy will hence need a reboot. Let's take a look. PAKISTAN The Pakistani army chief is talking peace. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said, "It is time to extend a hand of peace in all directions." The message is not lost on anyone. General Bajwa is talking about India here. You may wonder why this is significant. Pakistan has offered to talk many times. And India has declined every invitation, citing its zero tolerance policy against terrorism. What's different this time? It's the tone of the general. Bajwa was at the graduation ceremony of Pakistan Air Force cadets. He chose this opportunity to tone down the rhetoric. "We stand firmly committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. Pakistan and India must also resolve the long-standing issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a dignified and peaceful manner as per the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir and bring this human tragedy to its logical conclusion." Pakistan follows a military doctrine of "bleeding India with a thousand cuts". Now its army chief is talking about "peaceful co-existence". This could be an outreach. Or simply an attempt to make the right noises before the FATF, or the financial action task force, sits down to review terror financing in Pakistan. It is too soon to make any assessment. But with his words, the general has certainly caught New Delhi's attention. It may be time to review the stand. India has tried everything with Pakistan. The prime minister began his first term with his Pakistani counterpart in attendance -- the first of its kind invite. But we know how things went downhill from there. Seven years on, it may be time to engage, and see what kind of pressure India can put on Pakistan to deliver. It's a gamble. But India isn't spoilt for choice here. MYANMAR Min Aung La-ing is now saying the coup is legal and was inevitable. And the Western powers are in no mood to forgive. The United States has classified the takeover as a coup. But China seems to be blocking any efforts to reinstate democracy in Myanmar. Yesterday the United Nations Security Council failed to condemn the coup. Because China vetoed the statement. At the same time, Beijing took offence when journalists asked if China had supported the coup. Or if it gave a tacit consent to military rule. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin to this end said, "Relevant theories are not true. As Myanmar's friendly neighbouring country, we wish that all sides in Myanmar can appropriately resolve their differences, and uphold political and social stability." China rejects the suggestion that it supported the military takeover. But it still won't call what happened in Myanmar a coup. And it continues to cast a shadow over India's ties with its neighbours. Like Sri Lanka. Colombo has now gone back on a deal it made with India and Japan. The east container terminal deal agreement has been scrapped. It was signed in 2019. India and Japan had joined hands with Sri Lanka. They had agreed to develop a strategic terminal at the colombo port. India and Japan would have owned 49 per cent of the shares in the terminal. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka issued a statement reminding Colombo that this was a trilateral agreement. The statement asks "all sides to abide by existing understandings and commitment". But the Rajapaksas are unlikely to relent. At the same time, a compensatory offer has been made. Reports say Sri Lanka's cabinet has approved another proposal -- to develop the western terminal at the Colombo port. It remains to be seen how India will respond. And then there's one more neighbour orchestrating most of this trouble -- China. It remains as difficult as ever. Next time someone says 'love thy neighbour', think of India's lot.

Love thy neighbour? Think of India's lot

Days before the Myanmar coup unfolded, the International Monetary Fund sent $350 Million to Myanmar. The entire amount was sent in cash, to help the country battle COVID-19 outbreak. Now, what IMF can do to withdraw the funds?

IMF sent $350 Mn cash as COVID-19 financing program to Myanmar before coup

Are you in Myanmar? What have you seen of the coup? Do you have a story to share? Let Wion be your voice. Watch this message by our Executive Editor

Gravitas: Myanmar Coup: Let Wion be your voice

General Min Aung Hlaing is the man behind Myanmar Coup. He may have an unassuming appearance but he's no ordinary man. The strongman general was the face of Rohingya persecution in Myanmar.

Gravitas: The military chief who dethroned Suu Kyi

Did China support Myanmar's military in orchestrating a coup? What's in it for Beijing? What does Myanmar's military coup mean for India and the rest of the neighbourhood?

Gravitas: Is China backing Myanmar's generals?

Governments around the world and the UN have condemned the military coup in Myanmar. They are calling for the release of the elected leaders - including Aung San Suu Kyi. But China has labelled the coup 'a cabinet reshuffle.'

Gravitas: Myanmar Coup: China calls it a 'cabinet reshuffle'

A 50-year-old newspaper vendor in Yangon said on Wednesday (February 3) he worries for his livelihood in the wake of a military coup that overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi earlier this week.

Yangon newspaper vendor fears low sales with people avoiding news of military leaders

A Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law.

"We have got reliable information that Dakhinathiri court has given a 14-day remand from February 1 to February 15 against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under the charge of violating the import/export law," Kyi Toe, National League for Democracy (NLD) press officer, wrote on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.

The document from a police station in the capital Naypyitaw said military officers who searched Suu Kyi's residence had found hand-held radios that were imported illegally and used without permission.

President Win Myint, who was also detained by the military in Monday's coup, has also been charged under the National Disaster Management law.

The NLD party, earlier in the day, said its offices in several regions of the country had been raided, including by forced entry, with documents, computers and laptops taken. It said on Facebook that the raids started on Tuesday and urged authorities to stop what it said were unlawful acts against the party.

Myanmar's army seized power on Monday, detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and cutting short a transition to democracy in a takeover that has drawn condemnation from the United States and other Western countries.

Suu Kyi endured about 15 years of house arrest between 1989 and 2010 as she led the country's democracy movement and she remains hugely popular at home despite damage to her international reputation over the flight of Muslim Rohingya refugees in 2017.

Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said earlier in a statement that its offices had been raided in several regions and urged authorities to stop what it called unlawful acts after its victory in a November 8 election.

Army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power on the grounds of fraud in a November 8 election, which the NLD won in a landslide. The electoral commission had said the vote it was fair.

The Group of Seven largest developed economies condemned the coup on Wednesday and said the election result must be respected.

"We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically-elected government, to release all those unjustly detained and to respect human rights and the rule of law," the G7 said in a statement.

(with inputs from agencies)

A Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law. "We have got reliable information that Dakhinathiri court has given a 14-day remand from February 1 to February 15 against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under the charge of violating the import/export law," Kyi Toe, National League for Democracy (NLD) press officer, wrote on his official Facebook page on Wednesday.

A Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law. "We have got reliable information that Dakhinathiri court has given a 14-day remand from February 1 to February 15 against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under the charge of violating the import/export law," Kyi Toe, National League for Democracy (NLD) press officer, wrote on his official Facebook page on Wednesday. The document from a police station in the capital Naypyitaw said military officers who searched Suu Kyi's residence had found hand-held radios that were imported illegally and used without permission. President Win Myint, who was also detained by the military in Monday's coup, has also been charged under the National Disaster Management law. The NLD party, earlier in the day, said its offices in several regions of the country had been raided, including by forced entry, with documents, computers and laptops taken. It said on Facebook that the raids started on Tuesday and urged authorities to stop what it said were unlawful acts against the party. Myanmar's army seized power on Monday, detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and cutting short a transition to democracy in a takeover that has drawn condemnation from the United States and other Western countries. Suu Kyi endured about 15 years of house arrest between 1989 and 2010 as she led the country's democracy movement and she remains hugely popular at home despite damage to her international reputation over the flight of Muslim Rohingya refugees in 2017. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party said earlier in a statement that its offices had been raided in several regions and urged authorities to stop what it called unlawful acts after its victory in a November 8 election. Army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power on the grounds of fraud in a November 8 election, which the NLD won in a landslide. The electoral commission had said the vote it was fair. The Group of Seven largest developed economies condemned the coup on Wednesday and said the election result must be respected. "We call upon the military to immediately end the state of emergency, restore power to the democratically-elected government, to release all those unjustly detained and to respect human rights and the rule of law," the G7 said in a statement. (with inputs from agencies)

Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi charged with breaking 'import/export law'

Myanmar's army chief General Min Aung Hlaing said that the military ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi's government in the country was "inevitable", as Washington formally designated the takeover as a coup.

Myanmar army chief: Military ouster was inevitable

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