By Jonathan Thang

As you might have heard already the situation in Burma/Myanmar, about military coup (illegal/to be considered as rebel arms forces from now on),  our elected Myanmar President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and many state department heads, ministers, state/regional ministers, activists, and writers were arrested. This action has no legal ground except illegal fraud charges as well as out of constitutional rights. Therefore, the elected members of parliament have declared the current military government is illegal (military chief Min Aung Hlaing has formed the so-called SAC: State Administration Council as a new government which is illegal and is not accepted by the Myanmar people).  Thus, international communities must not recognize them.

President U Win Myint, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and her associates have already aware of the possibility of a military coup before February 1. 2021. The accusation has been made against Union Election Commission (UEC) for not conducting elections in proper procedure. Since then military tanks and soldiers were displayed in many major cities, which threaten to act as an emergency if the government and Union Election Commission (UEC) do not postpone the new session of parliament (which would proceed on February 1, 2021).  However UEC rejected the accusation, they claimed that the procedures were done openly before all political representatives and NGO observers from local and international.  UEC and all the observers witness the election, which was free and fair as well as genuine and recognized.  Therefore, UEC has released a statement, “There is no need to recount the vote since the election was free and fair”.  Moreover, it was obvious that the NLD party won by landslide, not by small margin winner. According to some sources, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has instructed NLD leaders and CEO U win Htein on what the people of Burma have to conduct if a military coup takes place and if she is under arrest. (We have the documents)

According to the 2008 constitution (which was drafted by military force over a decade ago), it states that UEC has full power to oversee the election procedures and the final result of the election. However after UEC declared the final results of the election, the military force could not accept the result because they lost the election.

Based on election results, NLD has won, however, the parties which are backed by the military could not accept the reality.  So they want to show the international community that the people of Burma are unhappy with the election results.  The Military force has hired criminal gangs, prisoners, and opportunists for demonstration at different locations as supporters of the military and demanded reelection.

According to the 2008 constitution, in case of an emergency situation, military force can take over the power of the country, whereas the president has requests to do so, and hand over the power of the President by the President himself after approval from parliament.   However, the current military coup has no authorization from President U Win Myint and the parliament; it was done forcefully by military chief Min Aung Hlaing.  The 2008 constitution also states that one Vice President can be appointed by Military force. The Vice President U Myint Swe (who was appointed by military force) transferred the power of President to Military chief Min Aung Hlaing.  U Myint Swe himself has no authority to act as or on behalf of the President as well as transferring of power is considered an illegal and unconstitutional act.  Thus, the military coup is an act of total rebellion and insulting democratic institutions.

The military coup process has a direct link to foreign interference by the support of Russia and China. On January 12, 2021, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and on January 22, 2021, the Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu met Myanmar military Chief Min Aung Hlaing before the military coup took place. According to Burmese political observers, Russia has agreed to support as long outdated military hardware could be sold out to Myanmar. On the other hand, China is eyeing to hold permanently Kyaut Phyu deep Sea Port project and is eager to restart mega-dam projects in the Kachin region, including the infamous Myit Sone dam project.

To be continue…

Filed under: 1 General News, 2 Burma News |