- Pravahi Kapu
Myanmar Coup: An Attack On Democracy
On February the 1st, the military in Myanmar, also known as Burma, seizes power and detains leader Aung San Suu Kyi along with other leaders in early morning raids. Suu Kyi called on people to protest against the military coup. Resulting in many protests. Myanmar could face many negative effects from an army takeover.
What exactly happened?
The military in Myanmar detained Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League, for Democracy in Burma. According to NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said at least 45 people had been detained. People in support of the military began to celebrate while others began to protest. Rallies against the coup occur almost daily in Yangon and Mandalay. People from all backgrounds have begun to rally against this seizing of power. The people continue to protest against the dictatorship and the military coup.
Why did this happen?
Myanmar had formerly been ruled by an iron fist for a long time, and democracy efforts began to reverse this. Aung San Suu Kyi had been kept under house arrest for over three decades for trying to turn Myanmar into a democracy. After 50 years of military rule, they began to partly loosen their grip. The coup is most likely a product of tension between the civilian government and the military after Suu Kyi’s party won the election with 83% of votes. The military strongly opposed democracy.
What are the Effects of the Coup?
The coup undid decades of efforts for democracy. Countries like China and Bangladesh have spoken up about this. The path to democracy in Myanmar has been obstructed by this uncalled for event. The army takeover will most likely put the country back under leadership, as Suu Kyi says. Suu Kyi also urged people to not accept the situation, and instead, protest wholeheartedly.
What is Happening Right Now?
Currently, people from all walks of life are protesting and rallying. Students, teachers, people from LGBTQ communities, factory workers, even celebrities, are protesting. There is more protest against the coup, dictatorship, and detainment of their leader, despite the ban on gatherings of more than five people. Suu Kyi continues to urge protests. The state run media releases “misinformation” about the protests, according to some protesters. The leaders remain in detainment during these protests. The fate of Myanmar is yet to be decided.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/world-news-myanmar-democracy-army-yangon-e09fa5d707143791058ab42386a1ff93