New Delhi: Myanmar’s military government on Friday extended a state emergency by six more months amid the ongoing civil war which was triggered by the overthrowing of the elected civilian government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi by the military.
The ruling military plans to hold an election this year, but critics say it’s a sham to keep the generals in power through proxies.
“There are still more tasks to be done to hold the general election successfully. Especially for a free and fair election, stability and peace are still needed,” state-run MRTV reported on Telegram.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 1, 2021, when the military staged a coup to oust the democratically-elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government and arrested its hugely popular leader Suu Kyi.
A yearlong state of emergency was imposed, which has been extended multiple times as the junta suppressed protests and battled armed resistance.
Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, who declared himself prime minister and president, had pledged elections by August 2023, but repeatedly polls due to escalating conflict.
Despite its weakening grip, the junta is expected to hold elections in late 2025.
Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to the Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that elections are likely this year. “They have six months to organise the polls.”
However, returning to the 2008 military-drafted constitution would please the junta and China, he added.
