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The Burmese junta announces new “illegal and scandalous” elections “

by Omar El Sayed - World Editor
written by Omar El Sayed - World Editor

Myanmar Junta Announces December Elections, Branded ‘Illegal’ by Opposition – Urgent Breaking News

Yangon, Myanmar – In a move widely condemned as a sham, Myanmar’s military junta has announced plans to hold legislative elections on December 28th, initiating a phased rollout across the nation. The announcement, delivered during a speech focused on small and medium-sized businesses in the Magway region, comes from the office of Min Aung Hlaing, the general who seized power in the February 1, 2021 coup. This development, reported by state media The Global New Light of Myanmar, is being met with fierce opposition from pro-democracy groups and international observers, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the upcoming poll and the future of democracy in Myanmar.

Junta Claims Path to Multipartite Democracy

According to the junta’s official narrative, the elections are a step towards a “multipartite democracy” – a claim directly echoing Min Aung Hlaing’s statements. The military regime, referred to as the tatmadaw, insists it is responding to the “desire of the people” and has implemented measures to prevent electoral fraud. However, this assertion rings hollow for many, given the junta’s history of suppressing dissent and manipulating previous elections. The promise of “free” elections is particularly dubious considering the ongoing crackdown on political opponents, journalists, and activists.

Opposition Decries “Illegal and Scandalous” Process

The Government of National Union (GUN), formed in the wake of the coup by exiled pro-democracy figures, has vehemently rejected the election plans. Nay Phone Latt, a spokesperson for the GUN, described the process as “illegal and scandalous” in a statement to Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). He clarified that the opposition isn’t inherently against elections, but condemns the current process as being entirely constructed by the junta and lacking any semblance of fairness or inclusivity. This sentiment is shared by numerous civil society organizations and international bodies.

Myanmar’s Tumultuous Political Landscape: A History of Military Intervention

Myanmar has a long and complex history of military rule. Since gaining independence in 1948, the country has been under military control for significant periods. The 2021 coup was not an isolated event, but rather the latest in a series of interventions by the tatmadaw to maintain its grip on power. Previous elections, even those held under nominally civilian governments, have been marred by allegations of irregularities and intimidation. Understanding this historical context is crucial to interpreting the junta’s current actions. The 2008 constitution, drafted by the military, guarantees the armed forces a significant role in politics, including a reserved quota of parliamentary seats.

The Impact on Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

The timing of the election announcement, delivered during a speech ostensibly about supporting small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the Magway region, is noteworthy. The junta is likely attempting to portray itself as focused on economic development and improving the lives of ordinary citizens. However, the political instability caused by the coup and the subsequent crackdown have severely damaged Myanmar’s economy, particularly impacting SMEs. Many businesses have been forced to close, and foreign investment has plummeted. The promise of economic stability through elections is unlikely to resonate with a population struggling with rising poverty and unemployment.

What’s Next for Myanmar? Navigating a Complex Future

The December elections are almost certain to be rejected by the international community and the vast majority of Myanmar’s population. The GUN and other resistance groups are likely to continue their armed struggle against the junta. The situation remains highly volatile, with the potential for further escalation of violence. The key to a lasting resolution lies in genuine dialogue between all stakeholders, including the military, the pro-democracy movement, and ethnic minority groups. For readers seeking to stay informed, resources like Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Myanmar Now, and Irrawaddy provide crucial on-the-ground reporting. This is a developing story, and Archyde.com will continue to provide updates as they become available. Stay tuned for in-depth analysis and expert commentary on the evolving situation in Myanmar, and explore our extensive coverage of global political crises for a broader understanding of similar conflicts worldwide.

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world

In Burma, a hundred Rohingya imprisoned for having traveled without authorization

by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief

Published on : Modified :

Burmese authorities have sentenced more than 100 Rohingya to terms ranging from two to five years in prison for attempting to leave the country without “any legal document”, a state-run newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Some 112 Rohingya – including 12 children – have been sentenced in Burma to sentences ranging from two to five years in prison for attempting to leave the country without “any legal document”, a state-run newspaper reported on Tuesday (January 10th).

A Bogale court handed down its verdict on Friday for the group that was arrested in late December as it attempted to reach Malaysia, Global New Light of Myanmar said, citing local police.

The convicted children (five of them are under 13) were transferred to a juvenile education center near the commercial capital Yangon on Sunday, state media reported, without giving further details.

The Muslim Rohingya minority, derogatorily referred to as “Bengalais” in the Burmese media, face widespread discrimination in the Buddhist-majority country.

>> Bangladesh: the eternal exile of the Rohingya

Although settled in the country for generations, they are still considered as intruders in Burma, of which they do not have the nationality, nor the same rights as the other inhabitants, in particular to travel.

A procedure once morest Burma, accused of genocide by The Gambia, is pending before the highest court of the United Nations.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohingyas fled a bloody crackdown by the Burmese army in 2017 to find refuge in camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

Thousands of them – 2,000 according to the UN in 2022 – risk their lives every year in attempts to reach Malaysia or Indonesia by sea.

>> Mayyu Ali, Rohingya poet: “When I write, I exist and my community too”

A wooden boat with nearly 200 Rohingya on board, the majority of them women and children, landed on the west coast of Indonesia on Sundaythe fifth of its kind according to local authorities.

With AFP

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world

the International Court of Justice assumes jurisdiction

by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief

Published on : 22/07/2022 – 18:09

The case before the International Court of Justice between Gambia and Burma is entering a new stage. The judges confirmed this Friday their jurisdiction to hear the merits of the case. Banjul accuses the military junta of genocide once morest the Muslim Rohingya minority.

With our correspondent in The Hague, Stephanie Maupas

Since the beginning of this case before this High Court of the United Nations in November 2019, the Burmese authorities contest the jurisdiction of the Court. The judges therefore decided and they rejected all of Burma’s arguments by 15 votes to one. Only the Chinese judge Hanqin Xue considered that The Gambia was not entitled to plead this case before the Court.

It considered, as Burma had assured during the pleadings last February, that The Gambia was not suffering from the conflict between the military regime and the Rohingyas. For Burma, the Gambian State would have no interest in this case and the complaint should therefore be dismissed.

False, therefore, answered the judges by majority. States have a common interest that genocide be prevented, suppressed and punished. They further add that a state is not required to prove that the victims of genocide are its own nationals.

The Court will now be able to address the merits of the case: the genocide once morest the Rohingya community for which the Burmese government would be responsible. The procedure that might take months or even years.

In the meantime, at the beginning of 2020, the Court had ordered the Burmese authorities, and in particular its army, to prevent any act of murder, obstruction to births, or destruction of Rohingya civilians. But the conflict continues and a million refugees are still languishing in camps in neighboring Bangladesh.

► To read also: Burma: Rohingya victims of a “genocide”, according to Washington

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world

fighting between army and rebel groups intensifies in Kayah State

by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief

Published on :

Almost a year from the military coup in Burma, fighting between the army and anti-junta rebel groups has been intensifying for ten days in the east of the country. According to the UN, the situation is worrying for civilians in Kayah State.

It is more particularly in the towns of Loikaw and Demoso, located 200 km east of the capital, in the state of Kayah, that the situation is said to be very tense. The army reportedly launched air strikes and fired artillery there.

According to witnesses met by AFP, hundreds of monks have abandoned their monasteries, leaving the city aboard dozens of trucks. But that’s not all. The UN says nearly 90,000 people have fled Kayah state. They would be almost double according to local media.

The “deserted” city

In Loikaw, rebel fighters have taken over churches and abandoned houses. They also forced open the doors of a prison in an attempt to induce the detainees to join them, said a local policeman. In this state, 35 people had been killed on Christmas Eve and their bodies burned. A massacre attributed to the military. Fifteen priests also fled.

Burma has descended into chaos since the February 1, 2021 military coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi and ended a decade of democratic transition. In Kayah State, as elsewhere in the country, ethnic rebel groups, aided by citizen militias, have took up arms once morest the junta since the onset of the dry season in November.

UN calls on army to end attacks

The junta remains silent in the face of calls for dialogue launched by the international community. Tom Andrews, the UN rapporteur on Burma, once more asked junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to put ” end to attacks thrown at Loikaw and allow humanitarian aid to pass ».

And, while the health and humanitarian situation is critical, the military is blocking the delivery of aid and medical supplies to regions where resistance is strong, according to the NGO Human Rights Watch. More than 1,400 civilians have been killed by security forces since the putsch and more than 11,000 have been arrested, according to a local NGO.

Aung San Suu Kyi, already sentenced to six years in prison, risk of decades of detention at the end of his trial. Aged 76, she has been kept secret by the generals for almost a year.

► Also listen and read: Burma: the army’s response is “powerful and appalling” warns the NGO Myanmar Witness

(With AFP)

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