Current Affairs

Issue

The Myanmar military grabbed power in a coup, ahead of a scheduled meeting of the country’s newly elected Parliament.

 

Background

Leaders of the civilian government including Aung San Suu Kyi have been put under house arrest.

 

Details

• The military takeover came after a week of rumours and speculation ahead of the scheduled opening of Myanmar’s newly elected lower house of Parliament.

• Amid heightened civilian military tensions, the Myanmar military has put out a statement declaring it would protect and abide by the Constitution.

 

Reasons for coup

• The military has alleged that the general elections held in November 2020 were full of irregularities and that therefore, the results are not valid.

• The military had demanded that the United Elections Commission (UEC) of Myanmar or the government, or outgoing parliamentarians prove at a special session before the new parliament convenes on February 1, that the elections were free and fair. 

 

Democratic transition

• Myanmar’s democratic transition had been a work in progress. The results of the 2020 election were being seen by the NLD as a mandate for its plan of constitutional reform.

• But this was never going to be easy, given the tight constitutional restrictions for amendments.