A serious blow to democratic reforms, UN chief reacts to Suu Kyi's detention

Myanmar's military seized power on Monday in a coup against the democratically elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained along with other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party in early morning raids.

The army said it had carried out the detentions in response to "election fraud", according to a statement on a military-owned television station.

Following are the reactions recorded from the representatives of different governments, agencies and individuals.

Antonia Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:

"These developments represent a serious blow to democratic reforms," Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

"All leaders must act in the greater interest of Myanmar's democratic reform, engaging in meaningful dialogue, refraining from violence and fully respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms."

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State:

"We call on Burmese military leaders to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections on November 8."

"The United States stands with the people of Burma in their aspirations for democracy, freedom, peace, and development. The military must reverse these actions immediately."

Indian Foreign Ministry:

"We have noted the developments in Myanmar with deep concern."

"We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring the situation closely."

Katsunobu Kato, chief cabinet secretary of Japan:

"We are concerned about the state of emergency issued in Myanmar, which damages the democratic process, and call for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and others who were detained."

"The Japanese government has long been a strong supporter of the democratic process in Myanmar, and opposes any situation that reverses it."

"Our nation strongly calls on the military to promptly restore democracy."

Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister:

"I condemn the coup and unlawful imprisonment of civilians, including Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar," Johnson said on Twitter. "The vote of the people must be respected and civilian leaders released."

Jen Psaki, White House Spokeswoman:

"The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar's democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed."

Marise Payne, Australian Foreign Minister:

"The Australian Government is deeply concerned at reports the Myanmar military is once again seeking to seize control of Myanmar and has detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint.

"We call on the military to respect the rule of law, to resolve disputes through lawful mechanisms and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others who have been detained unlawfully.

Thant Muint-U, Historian And Author:

"The doors just opened to a very different future. I have a sinking feeling that noone will really be able to control what comes next. And remember Myanmar's a country awash in weapons, with deep divisions across ethnic and religious lines, where millions can barely feed themselves."

John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch:

"The military junta that ruled Myanmar for decades never really stepped away from power in the first place ... They never really submitted to civilian authority in the first place, so today's events in some sense are merely revealing a political reality that already existed.

"The US and other countries with sanctions regime should send a strong message today, by immediately revoking sanctions relaxations and imposing strict and directed economic sanctions on the military leadership and its enormous economic conglomerates; and pressing other key counties — including South Korea and Japan — to force businesses to divest. The Burmese junta doesn't want to go back to being China's vassal."

Murray Hiebert, Southeast Asia Expert At Center For Strategic And  International Studies, Washington:

"The US as recently as Friday had joined other nations in urging the military not to move forward on its coup threats. China will stand by Myanmar like it did when the military kicked out the Rohingya.

"The Biden Administration has said it will support democracy and human rights. But the top military officers are already sanctioned so it's not clear immediately clear what concretely the US can do quickly,"