On February 1st of 2021, Myanmar’s military staged a coup and overthrew a democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy party (NLD). A state of emergency has been declared for a year by the military, with authority falling under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Ever since weeks of protest against the coup have taken place all over the country. These protests, which are for the most part peaceful, have been met with violence and severe human rights abuses on behalf of the military, causing major concern and condemnation from countries and human rights organizations around the world.
The reason for the coup can be traced back to the recent general elections in Myanmar, where the NLD and Ms Suu Kyi won by a landslide. The military had supported the opposition and their calls for a redo of the vote due to claims of fraud, despite a lack of evidence. Aung San Suu Kyi has been put under house arrest and charged with crimes including the possession of illegal walkie-talkies and violating Myanmar’s Natural Disaster Law in her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 130 officials have also been arrested in relation to the coup.
The people of Myanmar, who had lived under military rule up until 2011, have been protesting in mass against the coup for weeks on end and with increased intensity, demanding the release of their democratically elected leaders and calling for the restoration of democracy. Businesses have also gone on strike to show their alliance with the movement. The military warned people not to protest as they will be met with force. Protestors defied the military despite the warning and continued to demonstrate, leading to some of the biggest demonstrations the country has seen since 2007, with tens of thousands of people involved.
The military has responded to these protests with increased violence. What started as cutting off communication servers and warning of the use of violence, has now turned into a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Water cannons and pepper spray have been used against protesters. According to the UN, over 50 people have now been killed by security forces, and many more have been severely injured or detained without grounds. One of the arrested party officials, U Khin Maung Latt, died in custody under mysterious circumstances.
This violent crackdown on peaceful protestors has been internationally condemned. Both the US and the UK have imposed sanctions on military officials, and the European Union is planning to do so as well. Yet countries in the surrounding region have stayed out of it, arguing the coup to be a matter for Myanmar to resolve internally. China went as far as to block the UN Security Council resolution that would have condemned the coup. It is clear that a tougher stance needs to be taken by the international community, as the human rights abuses that have emerged out of this coup cannot be ignored.
Sources https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55902070 https://www.dw.com/.../myanmar-coup-protesters.../a-56644083 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-55967959
