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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with CNA's Lin Xueling on "In Conversation" Feb 6, 2021. (Photo: Oliver Julian May)

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres backed the right of the Myanmar people to peacefully express their rejection of this week's military takeover that displaced the country's elected civilian government.

"Coups are not acceptable in the modern world and I reject and condemn the coup," said the UN Secretary-General on Saturday (Feb 6) in an exclusive interview with CNA.

"I would strongly recommend the people of Myanmar to express their grievances but to do so in a peaceful way." 

Mr Guterres' comments come in the wake of Monday's move during which Myanmar’s military declared a state of emergency and seized power. In an early morning raid, the army detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, and a raft of parliamentarians and activists.

Social media posts from Myanmar show a growing civil disobedience movement from people banging pots and pans every night, to reports of medical staff going on strike.

Guterres said the freedom of expression is a basic human right and urged the military "not to have any violence in relation to the people of Myanmar".

The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting after news of the military takeover broke and has called for the release of auung San Suu Kyi as well as others detained by the military. But unlike the UN chief, it stopped short of actually condemning the coup. The UN chief told CNA they would do "everything possible to make sure that (Aung San Suu Kyi) is released", but admitted the UN is powerless to guarantee that the de-facto leader of Myanmar would not face long-term house arrest again//CNA