Myanmar Military Announces Formation of Interim Government Six Months After Coup

Commander Heullaing Ascends to Prime Minister
Military Emergency Rule to Continue Until August Next Year Announced

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Myanmar military, which seized power through a military coup last February, announced that it will establish a transitional government six months after the coup, continue the military's emergency rule system until August next year, and then hold general elections. This move is interpreted as an effort to strengthen governance amid ongoing anti-military protests and insurgent activities led by ethnic minorities in Myanmar.

According to foreign media including the Associated Press on the 1st (local time), the Myanmar military announced the launch of a transitional government, with Min Aung Hlaing, the military's supreme commander, assuming the position of prime minister. The Myanmar military stated through the state-run media Myawaddy TV that the existing military-centered State Administration Council (SAC) will be swiftly replaced by the transitional government.

In his inaugural speech as the new prime minister, Commander Hlaing emphasized, "The military's emergency rule system will continue until August 2023," and "After that, general elections will definitely be held." Earlier, the Myanmar military had announced that the emergency rule system would last for one year following the coup on February 1. Due to ongoing anti-military protests and insurgent activities across Myanmar, it is interpreted that the emergency rule system has been extended by one year and six months beyond the initial announcement.

It is reported that anti-military protests and armed resistance continue within Myanmar. So far, 940 people have died due to violent suppression, and approximately 5,400 have been detained. Myanmar citizens and ethnic minorities are collectively opposing the six months since the military coup and the announcement of the transitional government, raising concerns that political instability will worsen in the future.

The National League for Democracy (NLD), the Myanmar democratic force led by former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, is expected to suffer significant damage. According to CNN, the Myanmar military has applied various charges against Suu Kyi, including election fraud, and she is expected to be imprisoned for more than 10 years. Additionally, NLD politicians and protest leaders have been arrested and detained on charges of leading over 11 million cases of election fraud in the last general election. Due to these circumstances, even if the 2023 general election is held, it is anticipated that the NLD will find it difficult to recover.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.