YANGON (AFP) – Myanmar’s junta announced a six-month extension of its state of emergency on Thursday, signaling the postponement of elections it had pledged to take place in August.
The Southeast Asian nation has been ravaged by violence since a coup that toppled the government of Aung San Suu Kyi more than two years ago and carried out a bloody crackdown on dissidents.
Thousands of civilians were killed and wounded. As the junta fights against newly formed and existing armed groups that oppose military rule,
Myint Suay Acting President “Emergency enforcement will be extended for another six months from Aug. 1, 2023,” he told a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC).
The 2008 constitution drafted by the army which the junta says is still in force. Requires the authorities to hold new elections within six months after the state of emergency is lifted.
Previously, the junta had pledged to hold new elections by August. this year
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing explained to the council that fighting and attacks continued to take place in Sagaing, Magway, Bago and Tanintharyi regions, as well as in Karen, Kayah and Chin states.
“We need time to do our part in the preparation systematically. We should not hold elections in a hurry,” Min Aung Hlaing told the meeting.
The junta has already extended a state of emergency once this year, a day after the NDSC said the situation had not returned to normal.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at the time that more than a third of Burma’s cities were occupied. Not yet completely under military control.
analysts said The anti-coup People’s Guard forces have surprised the junta with their effectiveness. and drag the army into a difficult situation
Military government forces burned the village. extrajudicial murder and used air strikes and artillery bombardment. Punish communities that oppose their rule. human rights groups stated
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing hinted in July that The military may extend the state of emergency and postpone the elections that have been promised. He said more efforts were needed to end the unrest.
After her government was overthrown, Suu Kyi, 78, was convicted of multiple counts and sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict under the leadership of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have stalled. Because the army refused to engage with the opponent.
The army’s crackdown on dissent has killed more than 3,800 people and more than 24,000 people have been arrested, according to local monitoring groups.
But the military government said More than 4,000 civilians were killed by terrorists. since the army took power.
#Myanmar #extends #state #emergency #months #sign #election
2023-07-31 13:51:00
