Myanmar coup leader named himself new PM
Min Aung Hlaing pledges to hold fresh elections in two years, consult with SE Asian nations on finding a political solution
BANGKOK/YANGON: Myanmar’s military ruler Min Aung Hlaing has taken on the title of prime minister of a newly formed caretaker government, state media reported on Sunday, six months after the army seized power from a civilian government.
Min Aung Hlaing has chaired the military-backed state administration council (SAC) that has run Myanmar since it was formed just after the February 1 coup, and the caretaker government will replace it.
“In order to perform the country’s duties fast, easily and effectively, the state administration council has been reformed as caretaker government of Myanmar,” state-run Myawaddy TV announced.
Earlier in the day, the military leader repeated his pledge to hold fresh elections in two years and cooperate with Southeast Asian nations on finding a political solution for his country.
“We must create conditions to hold a free and fair multi-party general election,” Aung Hlaing said during a recorded televised address. “We have to make preparations. I pledge to hold the multi-party election without fail.” The military authorities would “accomplish the provisions of the state of emergency by August 2023”, he said.
The state of emergency was declared when troops moved against the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, an action the generals said was permitted under the military-authoured 2008 constitution. The military claimed her landslide victory in last year’s national elections was achieved through massive voter fraud but it has produced no credible evidence.
The military government officially annulled the election results last Tuesday and appointed a new election commission to take charge of the polls. The military takeover was met with massive public protests that resulted in a lethal crackdown by security forces who routinely fire live ammunition into crowds.
Nearly 1,000 dead
As of Sunday, 939 people have been killed by the authorities since February 1, according to a tally kept by the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
Casualties are also rising among the military and police as armed resistance grows in both urban and rural areas.
Moves by The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to broker a dialogue between the military government and its opponents have stalled after an agreement at an April summit in Jakarta to appoint a special envoy for Myanmar.
The envoy still hasn’t been named amid criticism of lack of commitment from Myanmar’s rulers, and reluctance by its neighbours to interfere in a member’s affairs.
Asean summit
Ahead of a meeting of Asean foreign ministers hosted by Brunei this week, Aung Hlaing pushed back at the criticism, saying Myanmar “is ready to work on Asean cooperation within the Asean framework, including the dialogue with the Asean special envoy in Myanmar”.
The country is also struggling with its worst Covid-19 outbreak that has overwhelmed its already crippled health care system. Limitations on oxygen sales have led to widespread allegations that the military is directing supplies to government supporters and military-run hospitals.
At the same time, medical workers have been targeted by authorities after spearheading a civil disobedience movement that urged professionals and civil servants not to cooperate with the government.
Aung Hlaing blamed the public’s mistrust in the military’s efforts to control the outbreak on “fake news and misinformation via social networks”, and accused those behind it of using Covid-19 “as a tool of bioterrorism”.
Across Myanmar small groups of demonstrators marched on Sunday, six months after soldiers launched their putsch with predawn raids, ending a decade-long experiment with democracy.
Protesters in the northern town of Kale held banners reading “strength for the revolution” while demonstrators let off flares at a march in the commercial capital Yangon.
Tens of thousands of civil servants and other workers have either been sacked for joining rallies or are still on strike in support of a nationwide civil disobedience campaign.