Myanmar Coup: Military Detains Aung Sang Suu Kyi, Plans New Election In 2022 npr.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from npr.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Military coup in Myanmar as army chief takes control, Suu Kyi detained 3 minutes read
Yangon, Myanmar, Feb 1 (efe-epa).- Myanmar’s army chief took control of the country in a Monday coup, hours after arresting several politicians, including the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Military news outlet Myawaddy said Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing had assumed power following the arrest of the country’s President Win Myint, who was replaced temporarily by Myint Swe.
Swe was until now Myanmar’s vice president, appointed by the military as per the country’s constitution. The interim leader declared a yearlong state of emergency after Myint’s arrest and transferred power to Aung Hlaing. Only the country’s president can make such a declaration and transfer power to the army chief.
What’s new? Following vote cancellations in conflict-affected areas of Rakhine state during the 8 November general election, Japan has helped broker an informal ceasefire between Myanmar’s military and the Arakan Army in order to hold supplementary elections. Both sides say they are in favour, but the civilian government is reluctant.
Why does it matter? The initiative has halted almost two years of intense fighting and enabled dialogue to resume for the first time since December 2019. Negotiations over elections could be a stepping stone to a formal ceasefire, but the process remains fragile, particularly without civilian government buy-in.
What should be done? The Arakan Army should release three National League for Democracy candidates it has detained. The civilian government should support elections and – if the Arakan Army lets the captives go – drop its designation as a terrorist organisation. The Tatmadaw should stop insisting that the Arakan Army leave Rakh