Though Myanmar’s military recently staged a coup and ceded power to a civilian-led interim regime. The country remains in the iron grip of the military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, who is serving as president in name only. The move follows a four-year state of emergency due to gun violence. This state of emergency has lasted since the military coup that deposed Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in 2021. Despite this symbolic change in leadership, analysts say structurally not much is likely to change at all.
Min Aung Hlaing remains the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This dual institutional control illustrates larger, profound realities of governance in Myanmar. David Mathieson, an independent analyst focused on Myanmar, describes the military’s power transfer as merely “rearranging the same pieces and calling the regime a new name.” He warns that the status quo is doomed to repeat their abusive, repressive ways so long as accountability remains in their hands.
According to Myanmar Now, an independent reporting agency, the military junta has killed over 6,000 people since assuming power in a coup. Furthermore, they have fantastically stamped people over 20,000 of their custodians. The intensifying conflict has displaced nearly 3.5 million people inside their country, exacerbating existing humanitarian needs. Amnesty International has called attention to this shocking scenario in a new report. The military has denied or downplayed allegations of human rights abuses completely as disinformation by the West.
While the nationwide state of emergency has recently been lifted. Martial law is still enforced in more than 60 townships in nine regions and states. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for the interim government, confirmed that interim president and commander in chief Aung Sang emphasized the next six months. This timeframe is critically important, as it is preparation and conduct of election. With the elections now set for December and January, they will be held in different regions depending on where the security situation continues to improve.
Behind these protests came the 2021 military justification for its coup—the charge of widespread electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections. Except a lot of folks have really, really disputed the math. Since then, Myanmar has descended into anarchy. The military is unable to manage an escalating insurgency and is under grave allegations of perpetrating mass abuses against civilians.
