Hundreds have gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra to protest against the military coup in Myanmar.
The detention of democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi has prompted tens of thousands of protesters in Myanmar to gather in the streets while voicing their anger towards the leaders of the coup.
Members of Australia’s Myanmar community gathered in Canberra on Friday, chanting for the coup to be ended and for democracy to be returned to their homeland.
The protesters are calling for the unconditional release of Suu Kyi and a restoration of her government, which won more than 82 per cent of seats in an election last year.
Most protesters in Canberra wore red - the traditional colour of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.
Dr Thein Moe Win was an activist in Myanmar during a previous violent coup attempt in 1988.
He said witnessing the coup has been “heartbreaking” and warned that the country was at risk of going back to the “dark ages”.
“Under this dictatorship we all have suffered – we don’t want this to continue happening again and again,” he told SBS News.
“The country has gone back to the dark ages … it’s heartbreaking – it shouldn’t be happening.”
Myanmar's vote last November was only the second democratic election the country had seen since it emerged from the 49-year grip of military rule in 2011.
Dr Thein Moe Win says watching the coup unfold in Myanmar has been "heartbreaking". Source: SBS News
Myanmar nationals in Australia who witnessed the coup - led by General Min Aung Hlaing - have been reminded of past struggles in their fight for democracy.
Khin Swe said she was afraid of a return to the authoritarian rule witnessed by her parents.
“I have almost cried so many times for everyone living there – they are trying to shut out from the rest of the world,” she told SBS News.
The coup leaders have declared control of the country for one year under a state of emergency after claiming last year’s poll – won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy – had been fraudulent.
Khin Swe (third from right) is concerned about what the coup will mean for the country. Source: SBS News
Kalvin Hein also shared his concern at the coup’s halting of democratic progress in Myanmar.
“Being a younger generation it feels pretty bad because this is our future at stake if we don’t get involved right now,” he told SBS News.
The protesters have called for Australia to follow its allies in announcing sanctions against the military junta leaders.
Kalvin Hein said he never thought he would see a coup happen again in Myanmar. Source: SBS News
Pressure is building on Australia to follow the United States and New Zealand in taking direct action against the military coup leaders in Myanmar.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has not ruled out further sanctions - saying the process is “under regular review".
Australian economics adviser Sean Turnell was among those detained since the military seized power.
Saydana Twin said a stand needed to be taken against the leaders of the military coup.
Saydana Twin said she shares empathy with protesters in Myanmar. Source: SBS News
“This has to end now because it will be going on and on – how many more generations will suffer with this military,” she told SBS News.
Tin Mweaye added: “All the people in Myanmar – they don’t want a military government – we want our leader Aung San Suu Kyi.”
The Australian government has imposed sanctions and travel bans on five Myanmar generals accused of leading a crackdown on the country’s Rohingya minority in 2017.
In the past it has imposed sanctions on Myanmar in response to concerns about the military's failure to recognise previous election results.
