Irrawaddy-July 31
The military regime unconstitutionally extended the state of emergency on Monday, prolonging harsh military rule for another six months in a country already devastated amid two and a half years of junta rule. The extension was issued at the regime’s National Defense and Security Council (NDSC) meeting on Monday, according to the junta’s Myawady TV channel. It added that the meeting was joined by all NDSC members, including Vice President Henry Van Thio, who has served continuously as second vice-president under the National League for Democracy government and now the junta. The state of emergency was initially declared in February 2021, when the military ousted the democratically elected government of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar has been in chaos since then. Monday’s extension is thus the second time that the regime boss has violated the charter regarding the state of emergency. The constitution also states that an election must be held within six months of a state of emergency being lifted.
The latest extension came as no surprise after he hinted two weeks ago at a cabinet meeting that “much remains to be done to restore stability and rule of law across the union,” referring to nationwide armed resistance against his military rule. Myanmar has been ravaged by armed conflicts between the junta and widespread armed resistance since the 2021 takeover. The regime has responded to the growing resistance movement with indiscriminate air strikes, raids and arbitrary killings across the country. As of Friday, the junta had killed more than 3,850 people, including those engaged in anti-regime activities and civilians killed in indiscriminate attacks, according to independent watchdogs. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-extends-state-of-emergency-for-6-more-months.html
