Why is the military taking control of Myanmar and why has it detained govt leaders?

Myanmar was engulfed in chaos early on February 1 as its military took over power anuncing a one-year state of emergency with reports stating that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and or government leers have been detained. In run-up to vember 2020 election, Army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has acquired power of nation w, h claimed that civilian government was making "unacceptable mistakes". 

Suu Kyi h even reacted to crisis and urged people to t be intimidated and her party, National League for Democracy (NLD) emerged victoriously. However, military alleged that elections were full of ‘irregularities’ and questioned veracity of at least 9 million votes cast in vember 2020 even though country’s election commission rejected claims of fraud. Myanmar military stressed that it will protect and abide by its constitution. 

Why has military taken over w?

anuncement on military-owned Myawdy TV cited Article 417 of Myanmar Consitution’s that allows army to take over during times of emergency. moderator also said that COVID-19 pandemic along with civilian government’s failure to postpone vember general elections was reason for emergency. It was military that drafted constitution in 2008 and retains power under charter at expense of democratic rule. 

However, Human Rights Watch has described clause as “coup mechanism in waiting”. Souast Asian nation’s constitution also reserves key cabinet members and 25% of seats in Myanmar parliament for military. With such presence, it limits civilian government’s power while ruling out amending charter without military support. Meanwhile, some experts even expressed bafflement as to why military would upset ir status quo but ors ted looming retirement of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, commander since 2011.

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“re’s internal military politics around that, which is very opaque,” said Kim Jolliffe, a researcher on Myanmar civilian and military relations as per AP report. “This might be reflecting those dynamics and might be somewhat of a coup internally and his way of maintaining power within military.”

While Suu Kyi’s party won vember elections and bagged 396 out of 476 seats in combined lower and upper houses of Parliament, military refused to accept results and cited ‘irregularities’ in 314 townships that could have let voters cast multiple ballots or commit “voting malpractice”. However, country’s Myanmar’s election commission has confirmed victory and rejected army’s claims that were floated without any proof. 

w,  Myanmar military has informed that general elections will be held after a one-year state of emergency declared earlier in day. military said that during emergency period, Union Election Commission will be reformed and parliamentary elections held in vember 2020 will be reviewed, ANI reported quoting Xinhua. It is worth ting that state power in Myanmar has been handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing, while nation’s first Vice President Myint Swe will be serving as acting president of country. 

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