Six months after seizing power from the elected government, Myanmar’s military junta on Sunday formed the caretaker government with its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, as the Prime Minister (PM). Hlaing promised to hold a fresh election by August 2023 and cooperate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in finding a peaceful solution to the matter.
“To perform the country’s duties fast, easily, and effectively, the state administration council has been reformed as the caretaker government of Myanmar,” Reuters quoted a newsreader saying on state Myawaddy television. In another 50-minute recorded speech broadcast over state media, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who was dressed in a traditional jacket instead of a military uniform, said, “We must create conditions to hold a free and fair multiparty general election...We have to make preparations. I pledge to hold the multiparty general election without fail.” He added that the state of emergency would achieve its objectives by August 2023. In a previous statement, the leader promised to hold elections by 2022.
Moreover, the military chief announced that he is ready to cooperate with ASEAN, saying, “Myanmar is ready to work on ASEAN cooperation within the ASEAN framework, including the dialogue with the special ASEAN envoy of Myanmar.” In April, ASEAN leaders met during a special summit in Jakarta to discuss the fate of the member country that has been in political turmoil since the coup overthrew the democratic government on February 1. Although Hlaing was invited to the negotiating table, ASEAN did not extend the invitation to the National Unity Government (NUG), which is Myanmar’s shadow government, formed by civilian lawmakers.
During the summit, the leaders agreed on a five-point consensus that included selecting an envoy to mediate between ASEAN and the junta, immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, and early general elections so that the country could return to the path of democracy peacefully. Hlaing agreed to the consensus but later backtracked on his commitment, saying that the country will only accept an ASEAN envoy until it could “establish stability.”
The latest announcement by the junta coincides with a meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers on Monday to discuss the way forward in Myanmar’s six-month-old political and humanitarian crisis and finalising a special envoy. The stakes for the leaders to take action are even higher now, as the grouping has failed to make a significant change to the situation.
Since the onset of the coup in February, more than 900 pro-democracy activists have died in violence by government authorities. The country has also seen a surge in COVID-19 infections. The United Kingdom informed the United Nations last week that almost half of Myanmar is likely to get infected in the next two weeks.
Myanmar Junta Leader Declares Himself Prime Minister and Promises Election in Two Years
Myanmar’s military leader, Min Aung Hlaing, assumed the role of Prime Minister in the newly formed caretaker government and assured that fresh elections would be held by August 2023.
August 2, 2021
SOURCE: REUTERS