The ousted Aung San government has found another ally decrying the ongoing Myanmar coup, as the local Burmese community in Jamaica joined global voices condemning the military’s unlawful power grab.

The Burmese community, in a Tuesday (February 2) statement, said it strongly opposed and rebuked the military junta’s “forceful and illegal takeover of the Myanmar government”.

“It must be acknowledged that the will of the citizens of Burma has been ignored and this unlawful show of power has left a blemish on the history of our country,” the community began.

“We demand that our democratically elected President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other representatives of the nation, who have been wrongfully detained, be released and reinstated immediately. The results of the election held on the 8th of November 2020, which represent the democratic decision made by our citizens, must be respected,” the Burmese in Jamaica continued.

The Burmese community in Jamaica appealed to the United Nations (UN), “other global organisations and governments of the world” to help resist the coup and liberate Myanmar.

“[We] urge you to help us oppose the coup led by the military junta such that the leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, can take their rightful place as leaders of our country, as chosen by the people of Burma,” the community declared.

Suu Kyi’s NLD party won a landslide 83 per cent in a November 8 election. In taking over in the early hours of Monday, the Myanmar army said that it had responded to what it called “election fraud”.

US President Joe Biden threatened reimposed sanctions on Myanmar in response to the coup d’état, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounced the military junta’s actions.

See related stories below:

• Biden threatens US sanctions in response to Myanmar coup
• UK’s Johnson condemns Myanmar coup and imprisonment of Aung San Suu Kyi
• Myanmar police file charges against Aung San Suu Kyi after coup