Coup in Myanmar: What’s going on and why?

In Myanmar, the military overthrows a democratic government and seizes power. Myanmar’s parliamentary elections were held in November last year despite the impact of the corona pandemic.

 Candidates from more than 90 parties, including the National Democratic Party, led by the country’s popular leader Aung San Suu Kyi, contested the election for a total of 642 seats.

The Election Commission said the turnout was higher than expected. Aung San Suu Kyi’s National Democratic Party won a landslide victory in the by-elections.

Democratic rule in Myanmar is possible under the guidance of Aung San Suu Kyi after 45 years of struggle.

However, the military-backed opposition party claimed that the election was rigged and was rejected by the Election Commission.

This has caused shocks globally. Many leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, have been arrested and a state of emergency has been declared for a year in the wake of the sudden military coup.

Myanmar Uprising

The military on February 1^st, Monday morning exceptionally detained key leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, as the new government was expected to take office in a few hours.

A year of emergency was imposed and internet services were also suspended.

Many countries, including Australia and the United States, have reacted strongly to the military coup in Myanmar. U.S. President Joe Biden has described the Myanmar military’s actions as an insurgent and warned that sanctions will be imposed.

 But with the experience of the past decades, it has become clear that sanctions do not work, especially in introverted societies like Myanmar.

But sanctions bring Myanmar closer to China. It is strongly believed that the reason for the decline in dependence on China to restore democracy there in 2010-2011.

In this context, India has resisted efforts to reach a resolution in the UN Security Council.

Credible sources said that India had thwarted the attempt to crack down on the country. India is in a dilemma over the current situation in Myanmar.

India, which has supported the government for democracy there is debating how to pursue strong security and development interests after the latest military coup.

No talks have taken place between India and the ruling Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) since the uprising on Monday.

However, India plans to continue its development activities, especially in the sensitive Rakhine state in the Sittwe port, India building houses for the Rohingya.

But, for some reason, India strongly wants to walk alongside Myanmar. As India needs the help of that country to counter the many rebel groups in Myanmar.

China and Russia have blamed discouragement for the lack of an official statement and have taken a non-partisan policy, but ASEAN has called for talks, reconciliation, and a return to normalcy.

 Despite Japan calling it a coup, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato spoke about continuing financial aid. ‘We will look into our response while observing the situation,’ he said.

Significantly, in the midst of global criticisms, Myanmar military officials decided to disrupt Internet service in the country.

They also banned Twitter and Instagram. The use of Facebook has been banned at the beginning of this week, although this ban has not been fully implemented.

Under this strategy, the authorities had stopped Internet services a day earlier.

London’s NetBlocks’ service, which has been calling for the interruption and shutdown of Internet services, has confirmed that Internet services have been partially restored in Myanmar on Sunday.

Protest against military coup intensified in Myanmar. A crowd of thousands of people marched on the streets in the country’s largest city of Yangon on Sunday against the Myanmar military coup.

 Due to the large-scale nationwide protests, the present-day army which had occupied the power of the country had to restore the Internet services of the country again.

The crowd of protesters has been increasing since the coup on Monday.

Demand for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi intensified the leader of the country’s elected government and the top leaders of the party from house arrest is once again gaining momentum.

As protests from around the world continue to mount, Burmese people continue to post their grievances and anger on social media. The hashtags #saveMyanmar and #myanmar are going viral on social media.

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