Junta extends emergency rule for another six months

By Admin 31 Jul 2024

DMG Newsroom
31 July 2024, Sittwe

The regime has used the same excuse of “instability” in the country to extend its emergency rule by another six months.

Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing, who recently assumed the duties of acting president, chaired the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) meeting on Wednesday morning to extend the emergency rule, the sixth time since seizing power in a coup in February 2021.

Members of the military-controlled NDSC unanimously decided to extend the state of emergency due to “terrorist acts” perpetrated by the civilian National Unity Government formed in the wake of the coup, its armed wing, People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), and ethnic armed groups, said Min Aung Hlaing.

The junta chief replaced acting president U Myint Swe on July 18 after the latter reportedly took medical leave and was unable to perform his duties as the acting president. Over the past three years, Myint Swe was only seen in public when he presided over the NDSC meeting to declare and extend the emergency rule.

“The regime can only extend the emergency rule. It can’t restore stability, and is struggling to hold the poll it has promised. So, Min Aung Hlaing has assumed the duties of the acting president to extend the emergency rule,” said political analyst U Tun Kyi.

The regime said its efforts to hold a free and fair multi-party democracy election since the takeover have been delayed by hostilities.

Despite the breakdown of the national economy, Min Aung Hlaing told the NDSC meeting that his regime was working hard to develop the agricultural and livestock sectors.

Min Aung Hlaing reaffirmed his plan to hold the poll next year. The regime is preparing to conduct a population census to compile voter lists, he said.

The regime is doing as it pleases by abusing the army-drafted 2008 Constitution, political analyst U Than Soe Naing criticised.