Myanmar to hold elections in 2 years

MYANMAR’S military junta leader reiterated yesterday that the country will hold fresh elections in two years and cooperate with Southeast Asian nations on finding a political solution for the country, six months after grabbing power from the elected government.

“We must create conditions to hold a free and fair multiparty general election,” Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said during a recorded televised address. “We have to make preparations. I pledge to hold the multiparty general election without fail.”

The military junta 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 Feb. 1, an action the generals said was permitted under the military-authored 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. In addition to this, Min Aung Hlaing has taken on a new title as prime minister of the newly formed caretaker government, state media reported yesterday.

He has chaired the military-backed State Administration Council (SAC) that has run Myanmar since it was formed just after the Feb. 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,” a newsreader on state Myawaddy television said.

The military government officially annulled the election results last Tuesday and appointed a new election commission to take charge of the polls.