Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, hundreds of lawmakers under house arrest
- New cabinet appointments were top officials aligned with the military, including Wunna Maung Lwin replacing Suu Kyi as foreign minister
- Military chief and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing is an international pariah but he is now in charge of the country
Hundreds of members of Myanmar’s parliament were under house arrest on Tuesday, confined to their government housing complex and guarded by soldiers a day after the military seized power in a coup and detained senior politicians including the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
A lawmaker from her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, who requested anonymity, said Suu Kyi was under house arrest again, this time at her official residence in the capital Naypyidaw.
“We were informed not to worry. However we are worrying. It will be a relief if we can see a photo,” he said.
NLD press officer Kyi Toe said neighbours had spotted Suu Kyi walking around within the walls of her compound on Tuesday morning.
Yangon-based analyst Khin Zaw Win said it appeared Suu Kyi was safe for now. “All reports indicate she is not in danger,” he said.
But it is likely the military has made a strategic decision to keep her hidden, Herve Lemahieu from Australia’s Lowy Institute said.
