Military coup: What the future might hold for Myanmar

Experts and analysts appear unsure of exactly why the Myanmar military acted now, as there seems little to gain, according to a BBC report published earlier today.

"It is worth remembering that the current system is tremendously beneficial for the army: it has complete command autonomy, sizeable international investment in its commercial interests and political cover from civilians for war crimes," Gerard McCarthy, a postdoctoral fellow at the National University of Singapore's Asia Research Institute, told the BBC.

The move would potentially isolate non-Chinese international partners, harm the military's commercial interests and provoke resistance from millions who placed Suu Kyi and the NLD in power, Gerard said.

Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division, pointed out that the move puts Myanmar in danger of becoming a "pariah state" once more, while angering the people at home, according to the BBC report.

"I do not think the people of Myanmar are going to take this lying down," he told BBC.