Myanmar military promises election in a year
Myanmar's military has announced it will hold a new election at the end of a one-year state of emergency it declared on Monday when it seized control of the country and reportedly detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in last November's general election, humiliating the military-backed opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party.
Announcement was made on military-controlled Myawaddy TV
The announcement on military-controlled Myawaddy TV came after an earlier declaration that because national stability was in jeopardy, all government functions would be transferred to military chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing under a provision in the 2008 constitution that was issued under military rule. The announcement said once the election is held, the military would hand power to the winner.
The military imposed a state of emergency
According to reports, the country's powerful military grabbed power in a coup against the civilian government and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy in the early hours on Monday.
Military alleged discrepancies in the November 8 general elections
The military staged the coup amid its rising friction with the ruling NLD government over the results of the November 8 general elections, in which the NLD had registered a thumping victory. However, the military had alleged discrepancies in the electoral process. The military said it acted because Suu Kyi's government failed to address these allegations of widespread voter fraud and other election-related issues.
India expressed deep concern over the military coup
Following the incident, India expressed deep concern and said the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in the country. "We have noted the developments in Myanmar with deep concern. India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar," the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.
US threatens unspecified action if corrective steps are not taken
Meanwhile, the US said it is monitoring the situation closely and threatened unspecified action if corrective steps are not taken to restore democracy. "The United States is alarmed by reports that the Burmese military has taken steps to undermine the country's democratic transition, including the arrest of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian officials," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.
Suu Kyi's reputation has been tarnished by genocide allegations
Since her party won a landslide victory in 2015, Suu Kyi, the 75-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been Myanmar's de facto leader and held the position of state counselor. But her international reputation has been tarnished in recent years by allegations of genocide against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya population. Myanmar denies the charges and has long claimed to have been targeting terrorists.
