Myanmar army pledges elections, power transfer following coup
Myanmar's army said on February 1, 2021 that it will hold fresh elections and hand power to the winning party once a year-long state of emergency has elapsed, hours after carrying out a coup. PHOTO | AFP
Myanmar's army said Monday it will hold fresh elections and hand power to the winning party once a year-long state of emergency has elapsed, hours after carrying out a coup.
"We will perform real multi-party democracy... with complete balance and fairness," a statement on the army's official Facebook page said.
The military claims last year's election, which saw Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy win in a landslide, was riddled with massive voter fraud.
Unable to accept the result, the army staged a coup early Monday.
Suu Kyi detained
The statement was issued hours after the army took power, detaining de facto leader Suu Kyi, declaring a state of emergency and appointing ex-general Myint Swe as acting president.
It said that power will be transferred to the winning party after "holding a free and fair general election and the emergency provisions period is complete."
According to Myanmar's constitution — scripted by the army — a nationwide state of emergency can be declared for up to a year.Â
But given the coup and the army's near-total control of the country, that timeframe is within their power to change.
