On Monday, February 1st, 2021, the military-owned Myawaddy TV announced that the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s military) seized the control of the Myanmar government. This coup d’état was enacted by the commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing, who became one of the most wanted men on the planet as a result of his brutal crackdowns on the Rohingya minority which drove them out in search of safety. The Tatmadaw has also detained Myanmar’s democratically elected de facto leader of the nation, Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD) under house arrests or imprisonments. After the 2010 general election in Myanmar, the military junta was resolved and democratically elected officials were installed. The democratically elected government took on a power-share agreement with the Tatmadaw after the end of military junta, however, the military held a strong influence in shaping the country’s future. After the coup and the seize of power by the Tatmadaw, streets were filled with protesters. Around the world, citizens of Myanmar also protested in front of foreign ministries of each country they resided and major world leaders from around the world expressed their concern and solidarity with the people of Myanmar. Notably, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the United States Joe Biden, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, the President of France Emanuel Macron and many more condemned the coup by the military of Myanmar. On November 8th, 2020, Myanmar held an election which turned out to be a massive landslide victory by the NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi capturing 396 out of 476 seats in the combined lower and upper houses of Myanmar Parliament. This massive victory came under fire by the Tatmadaw which called the democratically and securely managed election rigged without providing any substantial evidence. Under the 2008 military-drafted constitution, the military holds 25% of the seat in government and the right to appoint key ministerial positions. However, as the DNL won over 80% of the seats in government, it created this conflict between the Tatmadaw and democratically elected politicians. Days leading up to the coup d’état, Major General Zaw Min Tun declined to rule out the possibility of a coup when he was asked by a reporter. As we now know, the Tatmadaw took action against the rightful government and enacted a coup. After the hostile takeover, the country of Myanmar experienced numerous internet service shutdowns which fueled the fire of protesters but also provided more chaos and uncertainty for the citizens. The military has also banned several news outlets and replaced them with military-owned tv networks. Now under stratocracy, commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing declared a state of emergency which lasts for 12 months and now the promising light of democracy in Myanmar has crumbled like the previous military coup in 1962 back when Myanmar was called Burma. The military leaders have not ruled out a possibility of another election, however, when this new election will be held is not clear at this moment in time.
The Liberal Conservative 