Myanmar Extends State Of Emergency By 6 Months, Elections Delayed Again

Yangon: Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council has decided to prolong the state of emergency for an additional six months, delaying the promised elections, as announced by acting president U Myint Swe. The extension is attributed to the ongoing challenges and the need to address security concerns, particularly in combating perceived terrorist threats.

The military imposed a state of emergency in February 2021 after ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, leading to widespread protests and a subsequent crackdown on dissent. Since then, the junta has repeatedly extended the state of emergency amid armed opposition to its coup, hampering the scheduled elections.

Despite promises of fresh elections, Myanmar’s military-drafted 2008 constitution, claimed to be in force by the junta, mandates holding new elections within six months of lifting a state of emergency. However, the latest extension continues to defer the electoral process.

A local monitoring group reports that over 4,400 individuals have lost their lives in the military’s crackdown on dissent, underscoring the severity of the situation in the country.