Myanmar Military Seizes Power, Suu Kyi Detained
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JAMADA ALTHANI 20, 1442 AH TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 16 Pages Max 23º Min 06º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 18350 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Kuwait facing shortage of Libya election vow must be India spends big to revive Modest Doha stadium far 4 180,000 domestic helpers 6 honored ‘at all costs’: UN 8 pandemic-hit economy 14 cry from World Cup venues Myanmar military seizes power, Suu Kyi detained Junta imposes one-year state of emergency after bloodless coup YANGON: Myanmar’s military seized power in a tions cut - a country once more isolated from a bloodless coup yesterday, detaining democratically world it only rejoined a decade ago. “It’s extremely elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and imposing a upsetting - I don’t want the coup,” said a 64-year- one-year state of emergency. The intervention end- old Burmese man in Hlaing township, standing with ed a decade of transition from outright military rule a crowd outside a grocery stall. in Myanmar, with the generals justifying the power The military declared, via its own television grab by alleging fraud in the November elections channel, a one-year state of emergency and that Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy announced that former general Myint Swe would be (NLD) party won in a landslide. acting president for the next year. It alleged “huge The coup sparked global condemnation, with the irregularities” in the November polls that the elec- United States leading calls for democracy to be tion commission had failed to address. “As the situa- immediately restored. Suu Kyi and President Win tion must be resolved according to the law, a state Myint were detained in the capital Naypyidaw of emergency is declared,” the announcement said. before dawn, party spokesman Myo Nyunt told The army later pledged to hold fresh elections AFP, just hours before parliament was meant to after the year-long state of emergency. Suu Kyi had reconvene for the first time since the elections. issued a pre-emptive statement ahead of her deten- Late yesterday, Myanmar state television tion calling on people “not to accept a coup”, announced the removal of 24 of Suu Kyi’s ministers, according to a post on the official Facebook page of and 11 new appointments. Former foreign minister her party’s chairperson. The military moved quickly Wunna Maung Lwin, who served under ex-general to stifle dissent, severely restricting the internet and Thein Sein, will return to that role after five years - mobile phone communications across the country. taking over a job that Suu Kyi had held while she In Yangon, the former capital that remains was de facto national leader. Myanmar’s commercial hub, troops seized the city hall Earlier the military sealed off roads around the just ahead of the announcement, according to an AFP capital with armed troops, trucks and armored per- journalist. AFP saw several trucks in Yangon carrying sonnel carriers. Military helicopters flew across the army supporters, with Myanmar flags and blaring city. A putsch had been expected for days, yet when nationalist songs, and some NLD members reported NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar: A soldier stands guard on a blockaded road to Myanmar’s parliament yesterday after the it came it left Myanmar stunned - with roads to its that security forces had ordered them to stay at home. military detained the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the country’s president in a coup. — AFP main international airport blocked and communica- Continued on Page 2 Space law is governed by interna- News in brief Dubai creates tional conventions and resolutions, including the UN Outer Space Treaty Fake COVID-negative papers which entered into force in 1967. ‘space court’ Several states have also signed bilater- THE HAGUE: The EU’s police agency yester- al or multilateral agreements to regu- day warned travellers to watch for organized DUBAI: Dubai announced yesterday late their space activities. However, crime gangs selling fake COVID-negative cer- the creation of a “space court” to settle while until recently the field was almost tificates at airports, sometimes for as much as commercial disputes, as the UAE - exclusively the domain of nations and €300 each. The warning from Europol comes which is also sending a probe to Mars institutions, space has become a com- after police busted several suspects selling - builds its presence in the space sec- mercial issue involving more and more forged certificates declaring people COVID-19 tor. The tribunal will be based at the private companies. negative at airports in Britain and France, online Dubai International Financial Centre “An integrated space industry, sup- (DIFC) Courts, an independent British- ported by human resources, infrastruc- and through mobile messaging chat groups in DUBAI: This picture taken yesterday shows a view of the downtown Dubai inspired arbitration center based on ture, and scientific research, is under Spain and the Netherlands. — AFP skyline. — AFP common law. Continued on Page 2 Hezbollah downs Israeli drone interview with CNN. the North’s former acting ambassador to Italy Jo N Korean envoy The teenager was “shocked” at the sudden sug- Song Gil also sought asylum. BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah gestion that would change their lives, but respond- Tae Yong-ho is another high-profile defector who movement said it downed an Israeli drone yes- ed “okay”, he said - and he took them instead to fled his post as North Korea’s deputy ambassador to terday after it flew over the UN-demarcated told daughter to the South Korean embassy. Ryu and his family Britain in 2016. He was elected a South Korean Blue Line border, while Israel acknowledged an reached the capitalist, democratic South in Sept opposition MP last year after publishing a best-sell- unmanned aircraft had crashed. Hezbollah said it ‘find freedom’ 2019 but their arrival was kept secret until last ing memoir that earned him celebrity-like status. “downed a drone belonging to the Israeli enemy week, and the interview aired yesterday was his After more than a year in the South, Ryu asked that had entered Lebanese airspace outside SEOUL: A senior North Korean diplomat who was first media communication. his daughter what she liked the most about her new Blida” in southern Lebanon. — AFP acting ambassador to Kuwait told his daughter About 30,000 North Koreans have fled repres- home. “I like the fact that I can use the Internet as they were going to defect to the South while pre- sion and poverty to settle in the South, almost all of much as I want,” she replied. Ryu now worries Deal struck to free Lebanese tending to drive her to school, Ryu Hyun-woo told them first secretly crossing the porous border with about the safety of his and his wife’s extended fam- media yesterday. “Come with Mom and Dad to find China. Defections by senior officials are rare, ilies remaining in the North. BEIRUT: A deal has been struck with the UAE freedom,” Ryu recalled telling his daughter in an although Ryu’s arrival came just two months after Continued on Page 2 to release from custody 11 Lebanese citizens, one of whom has already flown home, a top Lebanese official said yesterday. The UAE has in recent But the majority-Muslim parties to years expelled or sentenced to jail dozens of Kosovo to those accords - the United Arab Lebanese Shiites over alleged ties to Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan - Hezbollah,which Abu Dhabi classifies as a “ter- have all said their diplomatic missions rorist” organization. — AFP open embassy will be in Tel Aviv, in line with global consensus against recognizing in Jerusalem Jerusalem as Israel’s capital until the Alcohol at 2022 World Cup Palestinian conflict is resolved. JERUSALEM: Israel and Kosovo In exchange for setting up its mission DOHA: Alcohol will be available to football fans established diplomatic ties yesterday, in Jerusalem, Kosovo gets recognition in stadiums at the 2022 World Cup, but so far with the Muslim-majority territory from Israel, as it seeks to further legit- only to those purchasing hospitality packages, recognizing Jerusalem as the Jewish imize its 2008 declaration of independ- the contractor behind the premium offerings has state’s capital, putting it at odds with ence from its former war foe Serbia. said. No ruling on the availability of alcohol in the rest of the Islamic world. Israel has Because of coronavirus restrictions, offi- stadiums for standard ticket-holders has yet been since August normalized ties with four cials yesterday signed joint declarations issued. Speaking at yesterday’s launch of pack- Arab states under a series of deals separately in Jerusalem and Pristina. JERUSALEM: Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi signs a joint declaration ages for the tournament, Jaime Byrom, the chair- brokered by former US president Israel’s Foreign Minister Gabi establishing ties with Kosovo during an official ceremony held over Zoom man of MATCH Hospitality, said: “It is our expec- Donald Trump, collectively known as Ashkenazi said the ceremony with his counterpart from Kosovo Meliza Haradinaj Stublla (screen) at the tation that people will be able to (drink).” — AFP the Abraham Accords. Continued on Page 2 Israeli foreign ministry yesterday. — AFP 2 Established 1961 Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Local Kuwait’s Amir receives Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Sheikh Nawaf condoles with Saudi King on Princess Nora’s demise KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness Sheikh His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah meets His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.