Natasia Christy Wahyuni, Jakarta – Indonesia urges fellow Asean member state Myanmar to follow democratic principles, as defined in the bloc's charter, amid the ongoing military coup over election fraud claims.

"Indonesia calls for the observance of the principles of Asean Charter, among other things, adherence to the rule of law, good governance, the principles of democracy and constitutional government," the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrote in a statement on Monday.

The ministry added that all electoral differences should be addressed in accordance with the available legal mechanism.

"Indonesia urges all parties in Myanmar to exercise self-restraint and put forth dialogue in finding solutions to challenges so as not to exacerbate the condition."

The ministry's citizen protection director Judha Nugraha confirmed the safety of the 500 Indonesian citizens in Myanmar.

"Most of the Indonesian citizens work in the oil and gas sector, factories, garment industry, and as ship crews," Judha told Jakarta Globe's sister publication, Beritasatu on Monday.

The political crisis occurred over election fraud allegations. Myanmar had been military-led until the democratic reformation in 2011. In the November 2020 election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won a landslide victory with 83 percent of the parliamentary seats. The military then accused the party of electoral fraud.

On Monday morning, the Myanmar military seized power after detaining de facto leader Suu Kyi along with President Win Myint and other senior officials of NLD. The military declared a one-year state emergency status on television, and that Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing would take over the country.

Following the coup, the military deployed soldiers to the streets of the capital Naypyidaw and Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. Internet and phone services are blocked. Netblocks, a non-government organization on internet governance, detected a widespread internet disruption in the country. Phone numbers in Naypyidaw are also unreachable.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/indonesia-reminds-myanmar-of-asean-charter-principles-amid-military-cou