Myanmar’s military junta breaks promise, extends state of emergency for the fourth time

- Myanmar’s military junta extends state of emergency for fourth time while violating the country’s constitutional law, which states that a state of emergency can be up to two years maximum.

- Citizens in Korea supporting Myanmar’s democratization are planning “Myanmar 8888 Collective Action” from August 6 to August 10.

Myanmar’s military junta has extended its state of emergency for another six months, starting August 1. This also constitutes another unfulfilled promise to hold general elections within the year and to hand over power to a civilian government. Myanmar’s military announced the fourth extension of the state of emergency on July 31. Under Article 425 of Myanmar’s constitution, the state of emergency can be extended for an initial period of one year and two subsequent six-month extensions, up to a maximum of two years.

Previously, the commander-in-chief of defence services who leads Myanmar’s military, Min Aung Hlaing, claimed that the general election, which was held in November 2020 and resulted in a landslide victory for National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, was fraudulent. On February 1, 2021, he staged a coup and declared a year-long state of emergency. Last February, two years after the coup, he extended the state of emergency for the third time, on the logic that the country is not in a normal situation to hold a general election; he extended it for the fourth time for the same reason. 

However, the reality of the elections is different from what they said. When criticism of the military is criminalized, the media is not able to report the truth. Opposition leaders have been arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and executed. Massacres and repression of its own people continue to this day. The military defines Myanmar’s interim government, the National Unity Government of Myanmar, the People’s Defence Force, and the Ethnic Revolutionary Organization that oppose the coup as terrorist groups. Internet censorship has also intensified. 

The May 18 Foundation calls on the Myanmar military to step down and hold a democratic general election. The Foundation and the Gwangju community will continue to support the people of Myanmar who have stood up against the military and support them through solidarity activities. Gwangju supports Myanmar’s ongoing democratic struggle! Gwangju is with you!

In the meantime, Korean citizens’ groups that advocate democratization in Myanmar are organizing the “Myanmar 8888 Collective Action” from August 6 to August 10. All citizens who support democratization in Myanmar are welcome to participate.

2 August, 2023 

The May 18 Foundation

[보도자료] 미얀마 군사정권, 약속 어기고 국가비상사태 4차례 연장. 연내 총선 무산(Kor/Eng)