Why are people in Myanmar protesting?

On Feb. 1, shortly before the first parliament session was to open in Myanmar, the country’s military (Tatmadaw) seized control of the government.

The coup, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, the military’s commander-in-chief, was in response to a general election landslide victory for the National League for Democracy. The party’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been held in an unknown location since the government’s overthrow and is facing various charges, according to the BBC, including “violating the country's official secrets, act, possessing illegal walkie-talkies and publishing information that may ‘cause fear or alarm.’”

Suu Kyi gained popularity in the 1990s for her democracy and free elections campaigns. She spent nearly 15 years in detention between the years 1989 to 2010 for organizing rallies that called for democracy and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

Aung San Suu Kyi, November 5, 2010

Photo by Prachatai/Flickr

With Suu Kyi ousted Gen. Hlaing declared a year-long state of emergency, which includes curfews and restrictions on gatherings.

In an official statement announcing the state of emergency, the military claims “the voter lists which were used during the multi-party general election which was held on the 8th of November were found to have huge discrepancies and the Union Election Commission failed to settle this matter.” 

Additionally, in his public comments following the coup, Gen. Hlaing said the military was “on the side of the people and would form a ‘true and disciplined democracy.’” He plans to hold “free and fair” elections once the state of emergency is lifted.

The country’s Union Election Commission said there was no sign of voter fraud. Despite this, the NLD’s opposition party, Union Solidarity and Development Party, which is supported by the military, has called for a recount of votes.

Anti-coup protests erupted just one day after the military junta seized control of the country. The protests are the largest since the Saffron Revolution in 2007 when thousands of monks rose up against the military regime. So far, in response to demonstrations, the military has killed more than 580 people and detained at least 2,400 others, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

Protesters in Mandalay, March 2021

Photo by Prachatai/Flickr

The protester’s demands are clear: Overthrow the dictatorship and release Suu Kyi and other elected officials. Rally chants have included “military dictator, fail, fail; democracy, win, win” and the slogan “our cause.”

Demonstrations have been seen in cities across Myanmar, both Upper and Lower, in Mandalay, Bagan, Dawei, Pathein and many other locations. The largest protests have been in Yangon, attracteing at least 150,000 people. 

But the peaceful protests have been met rubber bullets, water cannons, and live ammunition by security forces, according to the BBC.

Protesters in Myanmar, February 25, 2021

Photo by Roel Wijnants/Flickr

The United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union have all placed sanctions on Myanmar military officials following the coup. The U.S. specifically has suspended trade ties with the country, which will remain in place “until the return of a democratically elected government.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the crisis a “reign of terror.”

The UN Security Council released a second statement to the press in March, but fell short of condemning the coup, let alone mentioning it, per a suggestion by China, Russia, India, and Vietnam to remove the language completely. The statement condemns violence against peaceful protestors, including women, youth, and children and “expresses support for the democratic transition” in Myanmar.

At the end of March, Christine Scrahner Burgener, the United Nations Envoy to Myanmar, called for the country’s neighbors to protect those fleeing from the escalating violence.

“Military leaders have clearly shown they are not capable of managing the country,” she said.

Scrahner Burgener said that while waiting until the military is ready to talk, the situation on the ground could worsen. She has urged the UN Security Council to help restore civilian rule under the elected government.

As of April 1, the military shut down internet access in the country, creating an information blackout and making it difficult to obtain news about the ongoing crisis.