Why did the military stage a coup in Myanmar?
Why In News?
The Myanmar military grabbed power in a coup on February 1,2021 ahead of a scheduled meeting of the country’s newly elected Parliament.
What triggered the coup?
The military says the November 2020 general election was full of “irregularities”, and has maintained that the results are therefore not valid.
It is questioning the authenticity of some 9 million votes cast in the election. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in the election.
The military had demanded that the United Elections Commission (UEC) of Myanmar which oversees elections, 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. The demand had been rejected.
The military’s Constitution
It was the military that drafted the 2008 Constitution, and put it to a questionable referendum in April that year.
The NLD had boycotted the referendum, as well as the 2010 elections that were held under the Constitution.
The Constitution was the military’s “roadmap to democracy”, which it had been forced to adopt under increasing pressure from the west, and its own realisation that opening up Myanmar to the outside world was now no longer an option but a dire economic necessity. But the military made sure to safeguard in the Constitution its own role and supremacy in national affairs.
Under its provisions, the military reserves for itself 25 per cent of seats in both Houses of Parliament, to which it appoints serving military officials. Also, a political party which is a proxy for the military contests elections. Its share of seats fell further this time because of the NLD’s sweep.
Aftershocks:
Myanmar military television Myawaddy TV said that the military has taken control of the country for one year.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was detained under house arrest.
International Reaction:
The United States opposed any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversed.
Australian also condemned the military coup in Myanmar and demanded to restore democracy without any delay.
Background:
KEY FACTS
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Capital: Nay Pyi Taw
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Population 53 million
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Currency Kyat
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Area 676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles)
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Major language Burmese, minority languages
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Major religions Buddhism
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Life expectancy 64 years (men), 69 years (women)
1057 - King Anawrahta founds the first unified Myanmar state at Pagan and adopts Theravada Buddhism.
1531 - Toungoo dynasty reunites country as Burma.
1885-86 - Burma comes under British rule.
1948 - Burma becomes independent.
1962 - The military junta takes over, initially in the shape of a single-party socialist system.
1990 - Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) wins landslide victory in elections, but the military ignores the result.
2011 - The military hands over to a nominally civilian government following elections the previous year.
2015 - Elections. Opposition National League for Democracy - led by Aung San Suu Kyi - wins enough seats in parliament to form a government.
2018 August - UN accuses Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya Muslims.
2021 February - Government overthrown in military coup.