Coup d’etat: Myanmar wakes up to a dawn of military dictatorship

At dawn on February 1 the Myanmar military launched a coup detaining leaders and announcing a oneyear state of emergency After decades of ruling the country the military had finally handed over the power to the elected government in 2011Myanmar militaryowned Myawaddy TV said on Monday that the military was taking control of the country for one year while reports said many of the countryrsquos senior politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained Here are some possible reasons why the military has taken over nowThe ConstitutionThe announcement on Myawaddy TV cited Article 417 of the countryrsquos constitution which allows the military to take over in times of emergency The announcer said the coronavirus crisis and the governmentrsquos failure to postpone November elections were reasons for the emergencyThe military drafted the constitution in 2008 and retains power under the charter at the expense of democratic civilian rule Human Rights Watch has described the clause as a ldquocoup mechanism in waitingrdquoThe electionsIn November elections Suu Kyirsquos party captured 396 out of 476 seats in the combined lower and upper houses of Parliament The state Union Election Commission confirmed that result But the military since shortly after the elections has claimed there were millions of irregularities in voter lists in 314 townships that could have let voters cast multiple ballots or commit other ldquovoting malpracticerdquo ldquoBut they havenrsquot really shown any proof of thatrdquo said Kim Jolliffe a researcher on Myanmar civilian and military relations The election commission rejected the claims last week stating there was no evidence to support themThe military takeover came on what was to be the first day of the new Parliament following the elections Instead Suu Kyi and other lawmakers who would have been sworn into office were reported detained A later announcement on Myawaddy TV said the military would hold an election after the oneyear emergency ends and would turn over power to the winnerWhatrsquos happening nowTelecommunications came to a near halt in the morning and early afternoon In the capital internet and phone access appeared to be blocked Residents flocked to ATMs and food vendors while some shops and homes removed the symbols of Suu Kyirsquos party the National League for DemocracyWhat happens nextGovernments and international organisations condemned the takeover Watchdogs fear a further crackdown on human rights defenders journalists and others critical of the military Even before the current takeover journalists free speech advocates and critics of the military often faced legal action for publicly criticising it A US senator raised the possibility the country could again impose economic sanctions which was lifted when Myanmar was transitioning to civilian ruleUS warns of actionJen Psaki Spokesperson White HouselsquoThe US opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmarrsquos democratic transition and will take action against those responsible if these steps are not reversedrsquoMarise Payne Foreign minister AustralialsquoWe call on the military to respect the rule of law and to release immediately all civilian leaders and others detained unlawfully This is a direct attack on Myanmarrsquos ongoing democratic transitionrsquoBrad Adams Asia director Human Rights WatchlsquoThe militaryrsquos actions show utter disdain for the democratic elections held in November and the right of Myanmarrsquos people to choose their own governmentrsquo