Why Military Coup in Myanmar
In the early morning of February 1, when the newly elected members of parliament were supposed to gather at the parliament for forming a new civilian government, the Myanmar military leaders overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi ‘s elected government, and they detained members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government and party, along with lots of politicians, activists and students. Aung San Suu Kyi has placed her under house arrest, charging her with possessing illegal walkie-talkies and violating the country’s Natural Disaster Law and President U Win Myint for breaking COVID-related health guidelines back in September 2020 . The overwhelmed victory of the NLD in the elections with 396 out of 476 seats; six more than at the previous election in 2015. On the other side, the military-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), obtained 33 seats. According to this dispute, the military launched the coup because Military was afraid of loosing control over the country’s legislative decision-making powers. Following the election results, Military claimed the NLD’s November 8 ,2020 election win was tainted by irregularities and it declared a one-year state of emergency. The Military coup brought an immediate end to a decade-long, prohibited democratic opening that improved freedoms for citizens, civil society and independent media in Myanmar. Military junta’s continues by appointing more cabinet positions, national and states and region governing councils.
People ‘s powerful responses/tactics against the military dictatorship
Military coup happened so sudden and it took less than 6 hours to take over the whole government body and in less than 24 hours, the new president was appointed without the people vote. Following the military coup, people were devastated, and felt hopeless with uncertainty and into an unknown future. Start from day two of Military coup, people started showed ways to against the military dictatorship following with the multiple peaceful campaigns; notably one initiated by doctors in Mandalay who refuses to go to work starting 3rd February 2021 to stop the governing system. People responded by showing civil disobedience, civil servants such as doctors, engineers, teachers and others refused to show up to work, while the public has shown their support towards such civil disobedience. Yangon has filled with candle lights and thundering noises of hitting pots and pans as a sign of resistance. The people, without guiding force, demonstrated their abhorrence towards military dictatorship and their admiration towards the elected members of the parliament and the legitimate government. Within days, however, the public responded with mass protests that spread to all segments of society, and up to now people are keep hitting pots and pans, and people stop contributing towards the military dictators by boycotting the militaries own companies and products. The civil disobedience campaign draws attention from all walks of life – medics, nurses, teachers, students, writers, artists, poets, housewives, and all have joined in the movement. People are resisting and rejecting military rule by all means.
What is happening?
Myanmar remains extremely volatile, with troops employed in all major cities and daily large-scale protests across the country. The security forces have recklessly used tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets, stun grenades and live ammunition against protesters, killing over 202 people and over 2,400 protestors have been arbitrarily arrested since the military seized the power, according to the report of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Overnight incursions on the homes of activists, as well as beatings and arrests, have been widespread. At least three political captives have tortured to death in incarceration.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, said that cruelties perpetrated by the military may aggregate to crimes against humanity on March 11.
Regime’s brutal terror cannot paralyze the bravery of fearless people. The anger of the civilian is becoming stranger and transforms to courage and creativity which send the message to regime repetitively “We will never fall, we must win”. “Junta can kill only the physical body, you can never kill the spirt and courage of people’’.
Khin Thet San
17 March,2021
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