Elections further postponed: Myanmar’s junta again extends state of emergency

Three and a half years after its coup, the military junta in Myanmar has extended the state of emergency in the crisis-ridden country for another six months. The generals explained in an official statement that this decision was made due to the ongoing instability and unrest in the country. The parliamentary elections that many had hoped for have thus been postponed again.

The army staged a coup on February 1, 2021, ousting the democratically elected de facto head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi. Elections that were originally promised have since been repeatedly postponed under the pretext that the violence in the country does not allow them.

Extension contradicts the constitution

The state of emergency was first declared after the coup and has been extended several times since then. In former Burma, the maximum duration is actually two years – this is stated in the 2008 constitution, which was also passed under a military government.

Since the coup, Myanmar has been plunged into chaos and violence. The junta is suppressing resistance with brutal violence. Internationally, the country is almost completely isolated. Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi (79) is in prison and is serving a long prison sentence for numerous alleged offenses.

Junta increasingly loses control

In various parts of the country, ethnic groups, some with ties to neighboring China, are fighting against the generals – with increasing success. According to experts, the junta has already lost control in many parts of the country.

Meanwhile, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is expanding his power: just last week he also took on the office of interim president. The current president, Myint Swe, who was vice president in Suu Kyi’s government, had to take a leave of absence for health reasons, the military council announced.