BANGKOK, July 31: Myanmar’s military government has ended the state of emergency it declared after seizing power four and a half years ago and restructuring its administrative bodies to prepare for a new election in December.
The elections face serious obstacles, including a civil war and vows by opponents of military rule to derail the election because they believe it can be neither free nor fair. Under the restructuring, Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing gives up two posts but will serve in other positions that keep him at the center of power.
The military imposed emergency rule and created new administrative structures after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021. The emergency decree empowered the military to assume all government functions, giving legislative, judicial, and executive powers to Min Aung Hlaing as head of the ruling military council, formally called the State Administration Council.
Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun, the military’s spokesperson, said the state of emergency has been lifted to allow the election process to continue.
Elections will be held within six months after the emergency period is lifted. The existing administrative bodies formed after the army takeover, including the State Administration Council, have been dissolved and all government functions have been handed to the National Defence and Security Council. Critics argue that the elections will not be democratic due to lack of free media and arrests of most leaders of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party.
The National Unity Government and powerful ethnic armed groups have said they will seek to deter the election. 01
