Myanmar military takes over national government in coup d’état

 

Military roadblock on a major thoroughfare in Myanmar. Photo c/o Getty Images.

The Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) has seized the country’s government in a bloodless coup d’état and declared a state of emergency on 01 February 2021, with Tatmadaw Commander in Chief Senior General Min Aung Hliang taking over as State Leader.

Several high-ranking elected civilian government leaders including State Councillor Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint were detained in early morning raids, hours before a new parliament was set to open.

The general media and press in Myanmar has been shut down and only military-owned stations operation. Internet connection and communications also experienced blackout. Military personnel and armoured vehicles took over control of the capital Naypyidaw, as well as the country’s largest city Yangon and other major cities.

Curfew has also been in effect nationwide from 8:00pm to 6:00am local time.

The Tatmadaw alleged that the recent General Elections held on November 2020 wherein Ms. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) Party won by a landslide, was marred by election fraud. The NLD party won 83% of the parliament’s positions, while Tatmadaw-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party won only 7%.

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hliang is expected to lead the country for the entire year, and has used the country’s 2008 Constitution as basis for its takeover. The new government has removed 24 ministers from their positions and announcing the appointment of 11 new ministers as replacements.

The country has a long experience of being under military leadership, with reforms being made to allow civilian democratic rule only starting years ago. 

[1] CNN

[2] BBC News

[3] ABC News