Myanmar extends state of emergency for another 6 months

Myanmar's military junta chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, in the capital Naypyitaw in March 2021 (Photo: Reuters).

"Acting President U Myint Swe has declared a six-month extension of the state of emergency... due to the extraordinary situation and to continue the anti-terrorism process," the military government said on January 31.

This is the fifth extension since the military took power in Myanmar on February 1, 2021.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, initially pledged to hold elections in August 2023, but later delayed them, citing continued instability in conflict areas and the need to conduct a national census before voting.

Under Myanmar's 2008 military-drafted constitution, the government must hold elections within six months of the state of emergency being lifted.

Earlier, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing reiterated his commitment to holding elections at a meeting on January 6 in the capital Naypyitaw. Myanmar media quoted Min Aung Hlaing as saying that the government would hand over the responsibility of state management to the party that won the election in a free and fair election.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 2021, with conflict raging across two-thirds of the country, according to United Nations agencies.

Since late October 2023, an alliance of three ethnic armed groups has launched a campaign to attack government troops and has so far captured at least 34 towns.

In northern and northeastern Myanmar, ethnic armed forces launched a campaign focusing on key towns along the border with China.

In the central region, People's Self-Defense Force groups linked to the exiled National Unity Government (NUG) have stepped up attacks on the army.

In the west, the Arakan Army (AA) seized army bases near India and Bangladesh, while ethnic Karen forces attacked key highways along the cross-border trade route with Thailand.

More than 600,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict broke out.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/myanmar-gia-han-tinh-trang-khan-cap-them-6-thang-20240131192214215.htm