2021 Myanmar coup d'état

2021 Myanmar coup d'état

File:2021 Myanmar coup d'état.svg Map of Myanmar

The 2021 Myanmar coup d'état occurred on 1 February 2021, when the Tatmadaw, Myanmar's military, deposed the democratically elected members of the country's ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). The coup took place on the day the Parliament of Myanmar was set to swear in the members elected at the 2020 Myanmar general election, thereby preventing this from occurring.

Background

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has a long history of military rule. The country was under military control from 1962 until 2011, when a quasi-civilian government was established. The National League for Democracy, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in the 2015 general elections, leading to a period of democratic reforms.

In the 2020 general elections, the NLD won again by a large margin, securing 396 out of 476 seats in the combined national parliament. However, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed the election was marred by fraud, a claim that was not supported by independent observers.

The Coup

On the morning of 1 February 2021, the military detained Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint, and other senior NLD leaders. The military declared a state of emergency for one year, transferring power to Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing.

The military justified the coup by alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 elections, although no substantial evidence was provided. The coup was met with widespread international condemnation and led to protests across the country.

Aftermath

Following the coup, large-scale protests erupted throughout Myanmar, with citizens demanding the restoration of democracy. The military responded with increasing violence, leading to numerous deaths and injuries among protesters.

The coup has also led to significant international responses, including sanctions from Western countries and calls for the restoration of democracy from various international organizations.

International Reaction

The coup was widely condemned by the international community. The United Nations called for the release of detained leaders and the restoration of democratic processes. The United States, European Union, and other countries imposed sanctions on Myanmar's military leaders.

Also see

• Aung San Suu Kyi
• Tatmadaw
• 2020 Myanmar general election
• Myanmar political crisis
• Union Solidarity and Development Party