Myanmar’s military-backed administration imposes martial law in 60 townships

Myanmar’s regime leader Min Aung Hlaing, who was inaugurated president by Myanmar’s pro-military parliament on April 10, has issued new emergency ordinances to impose military control in 60 townships, a move ​aimed at tightening security in regions still mired in ‌conflict despite the transition to civilian rule.

• The ordinances cover 60 townships across Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Chin, Shan and Arakan States as well as Saging, ​Magway and Mandalay regions – areas where the military had ​imposed restrictions and curfews following the 2021 coup.

• The ⁠official announcement cites the need to “end armed terrorism” and restore “the ​rule of law” as the main justifications for the 90-day ​emergency period, according to a notification published by regime media on Friday.

• All executive and judicial authority in these areas is transferred to Myanmar’s new military ​chief Ye Win Oo for a period of 90 ​days, according to a second notification published in regime media.

• The ordinances mark the first major move by Min Aung Hlaing to solidify control over war-ravaged territories since being appointed president by a pro-military parliament in early April after a widely criticised election won by a military-backed party.

• Myanmar ​was plunged into ​conflict in ⁠2021 after the military ousted an elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu ​Kyi, sparking widespread protests that morphed into a ​nationwide ⁠armed resistance against the coup.

• Following its 2021 takeover, the Min Aung Hlaing-led regime imposed a state of emergency across the country, which ⁠it ​extended multiple times before it was ​able to conduct elections in December and January that critics said were neither ​free nor fair.

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REUTERS