Timeline: The week since Myanmar's coup

Published On: February 7, 2021 08:30 PM NPT By: Reuters


MYANMAR, Feb 7: Here is a timeline of events since Myanmar’s military took power in a coup on Monday, Feb. 1. Here is a timeline of events since Myanmar’s military took power in a coup on Monday, Feb. 1.

Feb 1: Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other senior figures from their National League for Democracy (NLD) are detained in an early morning raid.

The military declares a state of emergency for a year, and says it carried out the detentions in response to alleged election fraud, handing power to army chief Min Aung Hlaing.

The NLD publishes a statement on behalf of Suu Kyi written before she was detained, urging people to protest the military coup.

The junta removes 24 ministers and deputies, naming 11 replacements.

Feb 2: Min Aung Hlaing tells the first meeting of his new government it was inevitable the army would have to take power after its protests over alleged election fraud.

Vehicle horns and pans being struck are heard around Yangon after dark in protest against the coup.

Facebook removes a page linked to Myanmar’s military-owned TV network in a measure to protect against harm, according to a spokeswoman.

Feb 3: Staff at 70 hospitals and medical departments across Myanmar stop work to protest against the coup. Others wear red ribbons as part of a civil disobedience campaign.

The NLD’s office in several regions of the country are raided, with documents, computers and laptops taken.

Myanmar police file charges against Suu Kyi and seek her detention until Feb. 15. A police document says military officers who searched Suu Kyi’s residence found six hand-held radios that were imported illegally and used without permission.

Charges are also filed against President Win Myint for violating protocols to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Government orders blockage on Facebook, as well as its Messenger and WhatsApp services, for the sake of “stability”.

Feb 4: A group of protesters wave banners and chant anti-coup slogans in Mandalay in the first such street protest against the army takeover. At least three are arrested.

The United Nations Security Council calls for the release of Suu Kyi and others detained by the military, but stops short of condemning the coup.

U.S. President Joe Biden says Myanmar’s military should relinquish power and release officials and activists in his first foreign policy address.

Another leading figure in Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, Win Htein, 79, is arrested.

Feb 5:

Teachers and some government workers join the Civil Disobedience movement, saying they will not work for the authorities unless the elected government is restored.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer says he has been unable to meet her because she is still being questioned. He calls for the immediate release of her and President Win Myint.

Japanese beverage group Kirin Holdings says it is terminating its alliance with Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company (MEHL), which has links to the military.

Feb 6:

Blockage ordered on Twitter and Instagram, where protesters had been sharing information. Junta then ordered blackout of the entire internet.

Tens of thousands of people take to the streets to protest against the coup in Yangon and other cities.

Feb 7:

Protests sweep Myanmar, with tens of thousands in Yangon and elsewhere in the biggest show of mass anger since 2007 protests that helped lead to democratic reforms.

Internet access is restored, but social media platforms remain blocked.


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