Myanmar's military junta plans probe of last year's election

Myanmar's new leer said military government installed after Monday's coup plans an investigation into alleged fraud in last year's elections and will also prioritize COVID-19 outbreak and ecomy, a state newspaper reported Wednesday. Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing anunced moves Tuesday at first meeting of his new government in capital, state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

military h said one of its reasons for ousting elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi was because it failed to properly investigate its allegations of alleged widespre electoral irregularities. state Union Election Commission four days before military takeover h declared re were significant problems with vote.

military has declared it will hold power under a state of emergency for a year, and n hold elections whose winner will take over government. In vember 2020 election, Suu Kyi’s party captured 396 out of 476 seats contested in lower and upper houses of Parliament. main opposition party, military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party, won only 33 seats.

military, kwn as Tatmaw, is automatically allocated 25% of seat in combined houses under 2008 Constitution that came into effect under a previous military government. state newspaper reported that Min Aung Hlaing told Cabinet members that a new Union Election Commission, with what he described as independent and unbiased personnel, “would examine voting data to find correct results, and actions would be taken accordingly in process.”″ He said voter lists would be scrutinized against family household registrations.

Min Aung Hlaing also said that COVID-19 containment measures taken by Suu Kyi’s government would be continued. Myanmar has confirmed more than 140,600 cases including some 3,100 deaths. Its health care infrastructure is one of weakest in Asia, according to U.N. surveys. general also urged measures to boost COVID-19-impacted ecomy, especially agricultural sector upon which 70% of country’s population who live in rural areas depend.

Suu Kyi and or senior members of her National League for Democracy party serving in government remain under detention after being rounded up on Monday, as do an unkwn number of lower-ranking officials and political activists around country. NLD has called for n-violent resistance to military takeover. On Tuesday night, scores of people in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, honked car horns and banged on pots and pans Tuesday in a ise protest called by activists. y included shouts wishing Suu Kyi good health and calling for freedom.

Supporters of military have also std demonstrations, attracting as many as 3,000 people to a Tuesday rally. takeover presents a test for international community. U.S. President Joe Biden called military’s actions “a direct assault on country’s transition to democracy and rule of law” and threatened new sanctions. U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Tuesday but took action.

takeover marked a shocking fall from power for Suu Kyi, a bel Peace Prize laureate who h lived under house arrest for years as she tried to push her country toward democracy and n became its de facto leer after her party won elections in 2015.

Suu Kyi h been a fierce critic of army during her years in detention. But after her shift from democracy icon to politician, she worked with generals, who despite allowing elections maintained control of key ministries and guaranteed mselves eugh seats in Parliament to have veto power over any constitutional changes.