Myanmar junta slaps martial law
Myanmar general repeats pledge of new election, democratic transition of power
YANGON: Myanmar on Monday declared martial law in its biggest cities following a third day of massive street protests, imposing an overnight curfew and banning all gatherings of more than five people in an effort to stem widespread opposition to its February 1 coup.
The martial law orders covering parts of Yangon, Mandalay and other areas banned people from protesting or gathering in groups of more than five, and imposed an 8pm to 4am curfew.
New junta chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing, wearing a green military uniform, made his first televised speech since seizing power, insisting the putsch was justified by “voter fraud”.
He echoed previous military insistence that the power grab was in line with the constitution, but declared that this time things would be “different” from the army’s previous 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.
“After the tasks of the emergency period are completed, free and fair multi-party general elections will be held according to the constitution,” he said. “The winning party will be transferred state duty according to democratic standards.”
The general said the country welcomed foreign investment and also announced lifting of coronavirus restrictions, including reopening schools and Buddhist pagodas. Rohingya refugees who escaped to Bangladesh during a 2017 crisis will continue to be repatriated to Rakhine state, he added.
His address came after tens of thousands of people took to the streets for a third day to protest against the coup that overthrew
Aung San Suu Kyi’s civilian government.in the capital Naypyitaw, crowds of protesters chanted anti-coup slogans and told police they should serve the people not the military. Police turned water cannon on protesters and warned that they might use live fire if the demonstrators did not disperse, but the protests ended without bloodshed. The junta has so far refrained from using deadly force.
Demonstrations also took place in the main city Yangon and elsewhere. Gatherings have so far been largely peaceful,unlike bloody crackdowns on previous protests, in 1988 and 2007 in particular when hundreds were killed.
Gen Hlaing said the junta would form a “true and disciplined democracy” different to previous eras of military rule. The election committee must be reformed, he said, claiming it had used the pandemic as an excuse and did not allow fair campaigning.