Justin Bullock, FISM News

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The military dictatorship in Myanmar will continue for at least another two years unless outside forces like the US or UN intervenes. This is because the military dictator in Myanmar, Min Aung Hlaing, has declared himself the acting Prime Minister of the country and has extended his state of emergency for at least another two years. Hlaing is also the head of the State Administration Council (SAC) which is now the de facto government of Myanmar.

Paradoxically, Hlaing also declared that Myanmar will have free, democratic elections by 2023 even though Hlaing led a military coup after free and democratic elections were held six months ago. As a result Hlaing and SAC are receiving extensive criticisms from the international community. In addition, Hlaing said that he is open to working with an envoy from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which Myanmar is normally a member.

In the midst of the coup, COVID-19 cases are on the rise throughout Myanmar. The country is also essentially paralyzed by constant internal protests and even armed conflict. The military has ruled with an iron fist and according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group, the military has killed at least 939 people and imprisoned at least 6,990 people. According to reports the numbers of the dead, injured, and incarcerated are going up daily.

In many ways the situation in Myanmar is becoming an international crisis. The US, the UN, and other foreign powers have only implemented sanctions against the Myanmar military government thus far.