Becomes Prime Minister: Myanmar Military Regime Leader Blames Terrorists, Lifts Emergency Status In Two Years

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military commander and leader of the Myanmar military regime, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, was appointed prime minister of the interim government which was formed on Sunday, August 1.

Exactly six months since the February 1 coup, he delivered a televised address, pledging to hold elections within two years. It is planned that Hlaing will lead the cabinet with his deputy, Deputy General Senir Soe Win, and announce plans for changes at the state and regional levels.

New cabinets are appointed for the states and territories, each of which will have a chief minister, six ministers and an attorney general, the announcement said.

Yangon and Mandalay, the country's two largest cities, will also have ministries in their respective local governments, with their mayors acting as ministers. The junta appoints a military officer to the rank of colonel to head the security and border ministry of each state or territory, while a police colonel will head the ministry of transportation.

In his speech, Min Aung Hlaing cited the military's 2008 draft constitution as the basis for his timing for holding new elections. He said the constitution allowed two six-month extensions of the one-year state of emergency that was imposed immediately after the February 1 military takeover.

"Six more months will be needed to prepare for elections. We will finalize the provisions of the state of emergency by August 2023," Min Aung Hlaing said.

On the occasion he also said the military council would work with a special envoy appointed by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to implement the five-point agreement adopted by the regional group at a special summit convened to address the crisis in Myanmar at the end of April.

"Myanmar is ready to work on ASEAN cooperation within the ASEAN framework, including dialogue with ASEAN's special envoy in Myanmar," he said.

Regarding the protests that have killed more than 900 civilians, including dozens of children, and arrested nearly 7,000 people from various backgrounds, Min Aung Hlaing blamed terrorists who opposed his rule for the country's misery.

“Protests carried out across the country after February 1 turned into anarchism and then armed conflict. Innocent people were killed shockingly. Why do they kill people? Why do they attack people who live peacefully? We can't accept it," he said, calling the response in line with international norms.

Separately, observers and critics view yesterday's announcement as a step in the Myanmar military regime's determination to maintain its rule, as well as giving false hope.

Thein Oo, justice minister of the shadow National Unity Government, said the junta's move was aimed at the military and meant to "deceive" its ranks with false hopes of power.

"This country has become a failed state. And the army has become corrupted on the inside as well. So this is to deceive the junta's own soldiers. It's certainly not about elections, but to keep the army in line," he said.

Meanwhile, observers of Myanmar's government system said Sunday's speech and announcement both signaled the regime's plans to remain in power indefinitely.

"Quite definitely they are trying to hold on to power as government for the long term," said the observer, who works with civil society organizations and asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.

The Myanmar Coup. The editor of VOI continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continued to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.