BANGKOK, Jan 31: Myanmar’s military government declared a six-month extension of its ruling mandate on Friday, as preparations continue for elections it claims will occur this year. This marks the country’s fifth year of ongoing crisis.
However, no specific date for the elections was provided.
The military imposed a state of emergency on February 1, 2021, following the arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi and other key officials from her administration, effectively reversing years of democratic progress after five decades of prior military governance.
The coup ignited an armed resistance, with substantial control now held by powerful ethnic militias and people’s defense forces backing Myanmar’s main opposition.
The military government faces its toughest challenge since seizing power and is under pressure in many regions, though it still retains control over central Myanmar and larger cities, including the capital, Naypyidaw.
State-run MRTV television reported that the National Defence and Security Council, led by Senior Gen. Ming Aung Hlaing, unanimously agreed to extend the emergency rule, citing a need for additional time to restore order for national elections.
While officially a constitutional administrative body, the council is effectively under military control.
According to the army-drafted 2008 Constitution, the military can govern under a state of emergency for a year, with two possible six-month extensions before elections are held; Friday’s extension marks the seventh time this has occurred.
Tom Andrews, a UN Human Rights Office special rapporteur, stated that four years of military violence and mismanagement have plunged Myanmar into crisis, with over 3.5 million people displaced by conflict.
“Military forces have killed thousands of civilians, bombed villages, and displaced millions. More than 20,000 political prisoners remain incarcerated. The economy is in shambles, public services collapsed, and famine looms for a substantial portion of the population,” he stated.
The state of emergency empowers the military to take on all government roles, granting Min Aung Hlaing extensive legislative, judicial, and executive authority.
Initially, elections were slated for August 2023, but the timeline has consistently shifted, with recent indications that they may not occur until 2025.
Per the Constitution, the military is required to transfer governmental powers to the president at least six months prior to elections.
The proposed general election is broadly perceived as an effort to legitimize military rule, aiming to produce results that allow the generals to maintain power.
Critics contend that the elections will not be free or fair, given the absence of a free press and the arrest of many leaders from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party.
Moe Zaw Oo, a member of the opposition’s shadow National Unity Government, mentioned on Wednesday that opposition factions are preparing to resist the military-held elections through nonviolent means. Calling itself the legitimate government, the NUG acts as an opposition coalition.
“None of our revolutionary factions will acknowledge the illegal elections the military plans to conduct. While we may have varying views on other matters, our stance on this election issue is unified and firm. We totally reject it,” Moe Zaw Oo stated during an online news conference. (AP)
