Military coup in Myanmar or how it all started?

Kremlin relations

The European Union condemns the military coup in Myanmar and wants to impose sanctions on those involved in it, the EU Council said in a statement:

“Today, the Council accepted conclusions that condemn in the strongest terms the military coup in Myanmar and support the people of that country … The Ministers called for a de-escalation of the current crisis through an immediate end to the state of emergency, the restoration of a legitimate civilian government, and the opening of a newly elected parliament. … While the EU says it is ready to maintain a dialogue with all key parties to resolve the situation, the Council said the EU is ready to agree on restrictive measures against those directly responsible for the military coup”

On February 1, a military coup took place in Myanmar. Residents found themselves in a country without Internet, TV or banks, and the streets were filled with soldiers in military uniforms. At night, the head of the National League for Democracy party, Aung San Suu Kyi, and Myanmar President Win Myint, as well as other representatives of this party, were detained.

Photo: Reuters 

The reason for their detention was that the military was convinced of falsification during the parliamentary elections in November 2020.

The election was won by the NLD party, which had won 396 seats in Parliament. Party of solidarity and develop the Union, in turn, received a total of 33 seats. The military challenged the election results in the Supreme Court, but no evidence of “falsification” was found.

The military declared a state of emergency in the country, and later said that they planned to transfer power to whoever wins the new elections.

Myanmar is facing ongoing protests involving tens of thousands of people, while Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint are under house arrest. The protesters demand the release of the government leaders, as well as the convening of the first session of parliament.

During the police attempts to stop the protest on February 9, several victims were identified. Police opened fire on the crowd of demonstrators after a failed attempt to disperse them with water cannons, according to the «Irrawaddy», the police fired into the air to scare the protesters. However, on that day, six people were injured, one of the victims was a girl who was shot in the head.

On February 10, US President Joe Biden signed a decree that provides for sanctions against Myanmar’s military leaders.

“Today I signed a new executive order that allows us to immediately impose sanctions on the Burmese military who led the coup, they will affect their business interests and next of kin,” the president said.

Later, he demanded the release of the detained politicians and activists, as well as to resign:

“Today, I call on the Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leaders and activists… the military must regain the power it has seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as demonstrated in the November 8 elections”

Myanmar police broke up a student protest on February 12. The students opposed the coup, and 14 activists were detained as a result of the protest.

“The arrests were made after the police opened fire during a peaceful demonstration of students. 14 people were detained, the Irrawaddy news portal reports”

Photo: Reuters

Prime Minister Aung San Suu Kyi was accused of illegally importing and using communications equipment. Later, on February 16, she was accused of violating the law on the prevention and management of natural disasters, according to her lawyer Khin Maung Zo.

The military condemned the mass protests and attacks on police officers. The representative of the military authorities referred to the police officer who died from wounds sustained in a collision with the protesters.

General Zo Min Tun said that the transition of power to the armed forces is due to the refusal of the National Election Commission to conduct an investigation into the falsification of the elections on November 8, 2020. The military itself presented the evidence to the government, conducting its own investigation.

“The armed forces had to take power into their own hands on February 1. This was not a military coup, it was a requirement of the Myanmar Constitution of 2008, the principles and provisions of which the armed forces remain faithful, ” General Zo Min Tun said.

Instagram Facebook and Instagram are currently reported to be blocked in Myanmar. Facebook has blocked military accounts linked to the coup. The company also notes that it will not place ads from structures associated with the Myanmar military.  

We can only follow the events in Myanmar and wait for new news.