The former university lecturer listened to the military takeover unfold over the radio, a stark reminder of when she fled persecution by Myanmar authorities in the late 1980s.

More than 30 democratically elected officials - including leader Aung San Suu Kyi- have been detained and the country placed under a one-year state of emergency declared by senior general Min Aung Hlaing.

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"Such suffering to a lot of people. Return our right for a legally elected democratic government," Ms Hta Nu said.

"I've been following this closely because I have friends and family over there. People have been detained and will likely be taken to prison.

"Some famous people will be put under house detention and we will have no contact with them; it's a big problem.

"Of course this change in government will be negative for people living there. It's only been five years since the last democratic election and there are vast improvements in literacy, transport, education, electricity and health systems.

"We want to let the world know that the democratic election results should be recognised and the coup dissolved."

The Myanmar military is alleging a recent election win by Aung San Suu Kyi was marred by fraud.

Democratic reforms led by the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner ended military rule in the country in 2011, although the armed forces retained a quarter of seats in Myanmar's Parliament. Aung San Suu Kyi, president U Win Myint and other civilian leaders have been detained in the coup.

Before fleeing to become an Australian citizen in 1994, Ms Hta Nu was a senior economics lecturer at Rangoon College and a prominent voice in the university-led resistance in opposition to the Myanmar socialist authorities in the 1980s.

As a Burmese refugee she said she will not recognise the new military government on February 5 and has urged the release of all detained people and a return to legally elected democratic government.

"The Burmese refugees in other international countries are starting to demonstrate in their own countries. I will try to write a letter to our local member, the minister and the United Nations," she said.

"I hope to help recognise the legitimacy of the detained government and let the UN solve this coup, have it stopped.

"Even if they say it's one year of state emergency, they might try to extend it to two, three or five years and I don't want to go back to 60 years of military rule again.

"The last coup d'état was when I was a child and we were under such harsh oppression and hardships. When I first heard the news of this one I was so stressed, I just had to cry."

Ms Hta Nu now farms in Kendall with husband and agricultural scientist Ian Oxenford. She campaigns for a variety of causes including Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group, Kendall Hall, Kendall Country Women's Association, Kendall community cafe and community garden.

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