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2021 Myanmar coup d'état

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2021 Myanmar coup d'état
Part of the internal conflict and political crisis in Myanmar

Former State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi (left), and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing (right)
Date1 February 2021
Location
Myanmar
Result

Military coup successful

Belligerents
Government of Myanmar Tatmadaw
Commanders and leaders
Aung San Suu Kyi
(State Counsellor of Myanmar)
Win Myint
(President of Myanmar)		 Min Aung Hlaing (Commander-in-Chief of the Tatmadaw)
Myint Swe
(First Vice-President of Myanmar)
Casualties and losses
None reported

The 2021 Myanmar coup d'état began on the morning of 1 February when democratically elected state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, president Win Myint, and other leaders of the ruling party were arrested and detained by the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military.[2][3] Hours later, Myanmar's army declared a year-long state of emergency and said power had been handed to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing.[4][5][6]

Background

Myanmar (formerly Burma) has been beset with political instability since it declared independence from Britain in 1948. Between 1958 and 1960, the military formed a temporary caretaker government at the behest of U Nu, the country's democratically-elected prime minister, to resolve political infighting.[7] The military voluntarily restored civilian government after holding the 1960 Burmese general election.[8] Less than two years later, the military seized power in the 1962 coup, precipitating 26 years of military rule.[9]

In 1988, nationwide protests broke out in the country. Dubbed the 8888 Uprising, the civil unrest was sparked by economic mismanagement, leading Ne Win, the country's de facto ruler to step down.[10] In September 1988, the military's top leaders formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which seized power.[10] Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of the country's modern founder Aung San, became a notable pro-democracy activist during this period. In 1990, free elections allowed by the military resulted in a landslide victory for Suu Kyi's party. However, the military refused to cede power and placed her under house arrest.[11][12][13]

The military remained in power for another 22 years until 2011,[14] following the military's Roadmap to Discipline-flourishing Democracy, during which the 2008 Constitution of Myanmar was drafted. Between 2011 and 2015, a tentative democratic transition began, and elections held in 2015 resulted in a victory for Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy. However, the military retained substantial power, including the right to appoint 1⁄4 of parliament members.[2][15]

The 2021 coup came in the aftermath of the general election on 8 November 2020, in which the National League for Democracy won 396 out of 476 seats in parliament, an even larger margin of victory compared to that in the 2015 election. The military's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party, won only 33 seats.[2]

The army disputed the results, claiming that the vote was fraudulent. The coup attempt had been rumored for several days, prompting statements of concern from Western powers such as France and the United States.[2]

Events

NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt said that Suu Kyi, Win Myint, Han Tha Myint, and other party leaders had been "taken" in an early morning raid. Nyunt added that he expected to be also detained shortly.[16] Numerous communications channels stopped working – phone lines to the capital Naypyidaw were interrupted, state-run MRTV said it was unable to broadcast due to "technical issues,"[16] and widespread Internet disruptions were reported from 3 a.m.[17] Soldiers were seen in Naypyidaw and the largest city, Yangon.[18]

The military subsequently announced on military-controlled Myawaddy TV that it had taken control of the country for one year.[19] A statement signed by acting president Myint Swe declared that responsibility for "legislation, administration and judiciary" had been transferred to Min Aung Hlaing.[20] The National Defence and Security Council – chaired by acting president Myint Swe and attended by top military officers – was convened, following which a statement was issued by the military declaring that fresh elections would be held, and that power would only be transferred after they had concluded.[21]

A military blockade of the road leading to the Mandalay Region Government Office.

All the member banks under Myanmar Banking Association had suspended their financial services.[22]

The military also announced the removal of 24 ministers and deputies, for whom 11 replacements were named.[1]

Reactions

Protests

File:Myanmar coup 2021 protest in Bangkok Thailand 01.jpg
A protest against the coup abroad at the Burmese embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

A group of about 200 Burmese expats and some Thai pro-democracy activists including Parit Chiwarak and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul protested the coup at the Burmese embassy on Sathon Nuea Road in Bangkok, Thailand. Some protesters reportedly showed the three-finger salute, the symbol used in the protests calling for democracy in Thailand.[23] The protest ended with a police crackdown; two protestors were injured and hospitalized, and two others arrested.[24] Burmese nationals in Tokyo, Japan, also gathered in front of the United Nations University to protest against the coup.[25]

International

Several countries, including Bangladesh,[26] China,[27] India,[28] Indonesia,[29] Japan,[30] Malaysia,[31] Pakistan,[32] South Korea,[33] and Singapore,[34] expressed concern in response to the coup, many of which encouraged dialogue between the government and the military in order to resolve the issue. Australia,[35] New Zealand,[36] Spain,[37] Turkey,[38] the United Kingdom,[39] and the United States[40] on their part condemned the coup and called for the release of detained officials; the White House also threatened to impose sanctions on coup perpetrators.[41][42] President Joe Biden denounced the coup as a “direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and rule of law" and said the coup "will necessitate an immediate review of our sanction laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action."[43][44] Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand explicitly refused to support a side, characterising the coup as an internal matter.[45][46][47]

Intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations,[48] ASEAN,[49][50] and the European Union[51] expressed concern and called for dialogue from both sides. In addition to concern, the European Union also condemned the coup and urged the release of detainees.[51]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi detained as military seizes control". BBC News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Beech, Hannah (31 January 2021). "Myanmar's Leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Is Detained Amid Coup". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  3. ^ Mahtani, Shibani; Lynn, Kyaw Ye (1 February 2021). "Myanmar military seizes power in coup after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  4. ^ Reuters (1 February 2021). "Myanmar military seizes power, detains elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi". news.trust.org. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ huaxia, ed. (1 February 2021). "Myanmar gov't declares 1-year state of emergency: President's Office". xinhuanet.
  6. ^ "Myanmar Leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Others Detained by Military". voanews.com. VOA (Voice of America). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  7. ^ "On This Day | The Day Myanmar's Elected Prime Minister Handed Over Power". The Irrawaddy. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  8. ^ Butwell, Richard; von der Mehden, Fred (1960). "The 1960 Election in Burma". Pacific Affairs. 33 (2). Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia: 144–157. JSTOR 2752941.
  9. ^ Taylor, Robert (25 May 2015). General Ne Win. ISEAS Publishing. ISBN 978-981-4620-14-7.
  10. ^ a b "How A Failed Uprising Set The Stage For Myanmar's Future". Time. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Burma: 20 Years After 1990 Elections, Democracy Still Denied". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  12. ^ Nohlen, Dieter; Grotz, Florian; Hartmann, Christof. Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I. Oxford University Press. pp. 599, 611. ISBN 0-19-924958-X.
  13. ^ Yan Aung, Wei (7 October 2020). "Myanmar's 1990 Election: Born of a Democratic Uprising, Ignored by the Military". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  14. ^ "How Myanmar's Fragile Push for Democracy Collapsed in a Military Coup". Time. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  15. ^ Hajari, Nisid (12 September 2017). "As Myanmar opens to the world, the mess inside becomes more apparent". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  16. ^ a b Foundation, Thomson Reuters. "Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders arrested, party spokesman says". news.trust.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ "Internet disrupted in Myanmar amid apparent military uprising". NetBlocks. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  18. ^ "Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi 'detained by military', NLD party says". BBC News. 1 February 2021. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Myanmar military says it is taking control of the country". Associated Press. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  20. ^ "Myanmar military stages coup, declares state of emergency for a year". Deccan Herald. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Myanmar to clarify voter fraud, hold new round of elections". The Myanmar Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  22. ^ "Telecommunications disruptions shut down Myanmar banks". The Myanmar Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  23. ^ "ด่วน! ชาว 'เมียนมา' ชู 3 นิ้วบุกประท้วงหน้าสถานทูต ต้านรัฐประหารในประเทศ". Bangkok Biz News (in Thai). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  24. ^ Pietromarchi, Virginia; Gadzo, Mersiha. "Myanmar's military stages coup d'etat: Live news". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Myanmar workers in Japan protest against Tatmadaw's actions". The Myanmar Times. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Bangladesh wants democratic process upheld in Myanmar". Dhaka Tribune. 2A Media Limited. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  27. ^ "China 'notes' Myanmar coup, hopes for stability". REUTERS. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  28. ^ 1 Feb, TIMESOFINDIA COM /; 2021; Ist, 09:36. "Deeply concerned by developments in Myanmar, says India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 February 2021. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ "Indonesia Urges All Parties in Myanmar to Exercise Self-Restraint". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  30. ^ "Japan urges Myanmar to uphold democracy after military stages coup". Kyodo News. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Press Release: Latest Situation in Myanmar". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malaysia). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Pakistan hopes from all sides in Myanmar to be restraint, work for peace: Zahid Hafeez". www.radio.gov.pk. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  33. ^ "S. Korea expresses concerns over Myanmar coup". Yonhap News Agency. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  34. ^ "MFA Spokesperson's Comments in Response to Media Queries on the Detention of Myanmar Leaders and Officials". Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore. 1 February 2021.
  35. ^ "Statement on Myanmar". Minister for Foreign Affairs - Minister for Women - Senator the Hon Marise Payne.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ Mahuta, Nanaia (1 February 2021). "New Zealand statement on Myanmar". via beehive.gov.nz. Retrieved 1 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "Sánchez condena el golpe de Estado en Myanmar y pide vuelta a la democracia". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  38. ^ Bir, Burak (1 February 2021). "Turkey condemns, 'deeply concerned' by coup in Myanmar". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  39. ^ "UK condemns military coup in Myanmar". Anadolu Agency. 1 February 2021.
  40. ^ "Statement by White House Spokesperson Jen Psaki on Burma". The White House. 1 February 2021.
  41. ^ "'Serious blow to democracy': World condemns Myanmar military coup". Al Jazeera. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  42. ^ Cherni, Hajer (1 February 2021). "La Maison Blanche menace les auteurs du coup d'État militaire du Myanmar de sanctions" [White House threatens perpetrators of Myanmar military coup with sanctions]. Anadolu Agency (in French). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  43. ^ Lee, Matthew (1 February 2021). "Biden threatens sanctions on Myanmar after military coup". APNews.com. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  44. ^ "Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Situation in Burma". WhiteHouse.gov. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  45. ^ "West condemns Myanmar coup but Thailand, Cambodia shrug". Bangkok Post. Bangkok Post Public Company Ltd. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  46. ^ Charm, Neil (1 February 2021). "Philippines says Myanmar events 'internal matter that we will not meddle with'". BusinessWorld. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  47. ^ "Myanmar's army seizes power, detains Aung San Suu Kyi". National Post. Reuters. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  48. ^ "Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary General - on Myanmar". United Nations Secretary-General. 31 January 2021.
  49. ^ "ASEAN calls for "return to normalcy" in Myanmar after coup". Reuters. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  50. ^ Christiastuti, Novi (1 February 2021). "Negara-negara ASEAN Bahas Kudeta Militer di Myanmar" [Intergovernmental Organization ASEAN Discusses Military Coup in Myanmar] (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  51. ^ a b Adkins, William (1 February 2021). "EU leaders condemn military coup in Myanmar". Politico. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
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