On Friday 29 January, diplomatic missions from the EU, nine EU Member States (the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden) and seven non-Member States, including the United Kingdom and the United States, called for Myanmar to adhere to democratic norms despite the potential risk of a coup.
The military has reported widespread irregularities in November’s elections (see EUROPE 12598/6), in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy gained an overwhelming majority. Speaking on Tuesday 26 January, an army spokesman refused to rule out the possibility of a military takeover to deal with what he called “a political crisis”.
“We urge the military, and all other parties in the country, to adhere to democratic norms, and we oppose any attempt to alter the outcome of the elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition”, the diplomatic missions said in a statement. They said they were looking forward to the peaceful convening of the Parliament on 1 February.
The missions once again congratulated the people of Myanmar on their “historic participation” in the elections.
They also reiterated their support for Myanmar’s democratic transition and for all those working towards greater democratic freedoms, lasting peace and prosperity for the people of Myanmar. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)