Myanmar’s ambassador in London has been formally summoned to hear the UK’s concern over the military’s seizure of power, British Envoy Barbara Woodward said.
As the military in Myanmar seized power, state counselor Aung Suu Kyi along with other top politicians were detained in the early hours of Monday, with Myanmar’s military declaring a one-year state of emergency.
“Myanmar’s ambassador in London has been formally summoned to hear the UK’s concern,” Woodward told a press conference at the UN.
Woodward said her deputy at the UN had held a “useful conversation” with Myanmar’s UN envoy, who represented the toppled government.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier condemned the coup and detention of civilians and called on the military to respect the vote of the people.
“I condemn the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar. The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released,” Johnson tweeted.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy emerged victorious in Myanmar’s November 8 election, the second since the end of military rule in the country in 2011. Myanmar’s military has accused the government of conducting the recent election fraudulently and vowed last week to “take action.”