The Myanmar coup d’état began Feb. 1, 2021 after members of Myanmar’s ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), were ousted via a military takeover by the Tatmadaw and the leader of the coup Min Aung Hlaing. The NLD won 83 percent of the Parliament’s body in the 2020 general election, which was contested by the Tatmadaw.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was ousted as a result of the coup. Military rule and martial law have since been imposed in Myanmar.
It is speculated that Min Aung Hlaing, who serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, seeks to be elected as Myanmar’s political leader following his retirement from the Myanmar Armed Forces.
Lawmakers were set to be sworn into their seats Monday in a new parliamentary session, but the military took power and detained them.
The Tatmadaw proclaimed a year-long state of emergency, as well as declared the 2020 general election results to be invalid. While an electoral commission has announced that there was not widespread voter fraud in the 2020 general election, Min Aung Hlaing suggests otherwise, as well cited concerns about fair campaigning.
Those involved in the coup aim to hold a general election following the state of emergency.
Ousted officials such as the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint have been charged with legal offenses and placed under house arrest. NLD officials report that she is in good health. A United Nations resolution passed unanimously, calling for the release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.
Protests have mounted as citizens have demanded the military to relinquish power to the elected officials and release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. Initial protests began with civil unrest inside citizens’ properties to maintain anonymity; however, protestors began to rally in the streets. Calls have also mounted for a general strike.
Protests have primarily been peaceful. Despite such, police have fired rubber bullets at protestors, which reportedly harmed at least three people.
On Union Day, the birth of the republic, protests mounted after the release of 23,000 prisoners and other pro-democracy activists. The protests have been described as larger than protests held during the 2007 Saffron Revolution
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 165 people have been arrested and 152 people remain in custody as of Feb. 7.
The military has since banned protests, as well as imposed a curfew for Yangon and Mandalay. Gatherings of more than five people and motorized processions have also been banned. Restricts vary by area, though.
The military has begun to arrest civilians and blocked Facebook to prevent further organization of protests. Internet services have also been revoked, as well as access to specific news channels. Flights were also canceled. As a result of the coup, the stock market and commercial banks also closed.
According to the AP, the coup follows what has been described as Myanmar’s most democratic period after being under military rule until 2011 since the 1962 coup.
The U.S. has threatened new sanctions against Myanmar as a result of the coup, and other countries have denounced the coup. On Feb. 8, the UN Human Rights Council announced a special session to address the coup in Myanmar, which was held Feb. 12. Great Britain and the European Union requested the special session and received support from 18 member states and 28 observer states within the UN. Russia and China, however, have described the coup as an internal political issue. An investigator with the UN found that there was evidence of live ammunition being used against protestors, which violates international law.
