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Military Coup in Myanmar: a Test for Asean

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Military Coup in Myanmar: a Test for Asean Research CenterCenter INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DIVISION Expertise AgencyAgency of of DPR DPR RI RI Gd. Nusantara I I Lt. Lt. 2 2 Jl. Jend. GatotGatot Subroto Subroto Jakarta PusatPusat - - 10270 10270 c 5715409 5715409 d d 5715245 5715245 m [email protected] A BRIEF STUDY OF ACTUAL AND STRATEGIC ISSUES Vol.XIII, No. 4/II/Puslit/February/2021 MILITARY COUP IN MYANMAR: A TEST FOR ASEAN Rizki Roza 7 Abstract The Myanmar military once again seized power from the civilian government. The coup that took place on February 1, 2021 is a step backwards for Myanmar's democratization efforts. The people of Myanmar protested and took to the streets, and the military responded by mobilizing forces and abuse of power. This event has sparked criticism from the international community, and has a pressure on ASEAN to take a more active role in restoring peace. This paper intends to discuss the efforts that can be done by ASEAN. The coup, in any case, indicates the military's unpreparedness to surrender power completely to the civilian government. Hitherto, the coup led by General Min Aung Hlaing appears more lenient than the previous ones. The military also tends to be more transparent to the international community. This is an opportunity that ASEAN can take advantage of in order to play a more active role, provided that ASEAN dares to be more flexible in exercising the principle of non-intervention. The Government and House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) are expected to push ASEAN towards common stance in order to achieve wider goals of the organization. Introduction The coup sparked massive Ahead of the inaugural protests and labor strikes in session of parliament concerning various parts of Myanmar. Various result of the general election held elements of society in Myanmar in November 2020, the Myanmar took to the streets and expressed military led by General Min Aung their repudiation of the coup. Hlaing seized control over the The international community government. The military detained has responded and observed the State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, situation, including the Indonesian President Win Mynt, as well as a government. They are not only number of figures from the National observing developments in PUSLIT BKD League for Democracy (NLD) Party. Myanmar, but also highlighting the Myanmar, which has just recently role of ASEAN. started its transitional period to As a regional organization, democracy, was once again under there is a great expectation that military control on February 1, 2021. ASEAN can play a more active role in restoring democracy and civil house arrest. In order to maintain power in Myanmar. This paper will military control over the government, discuss how ASEAN can respond the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) to the international community’s drafted a new constitution, in which it expectation by first trying to is stipulated that 25% of the national comprehend the political direction and local parliamentary seats must be desired by the military through the reserved for military officials. Based coup. By understanding this issue, it on this constitution, another election may serve as a basis for considering was held in 2011 which was won by the steps that need to be taken by the Union Solidarity and Development ASEAN, including Indonesia. Party (USDP). During the period of control by The Ebb and Flow of the USDP over the government (2011- Myanmar’s Democracy 2016), General Min Aung Hlaing had This is not the first the military a substantial influence in politics. The 8 junta seized power in Myanmar. The NLD won a sweeping victory in the Myanmar military has a long history subsequent election (2015), however in Myanmar's internal affairs. The they were unable to elect Suu Kyi as military once controlled Myanmar's President because the constitution government for decades, and drawn up by the military barred during that time, many democratic her from running for president. The movements had risen. The coup president at that time, Htin Kyaw against the semi-democratic rule in created the position of State Counselor 1962 became a critical turning point which placed Suu Kyi as the head of of military rule in Myanmar. government. Student activists in During this period, the Myanmar led major protests in relationship between the military and 1988 in response to economic the government of Suu Kyi seemed just mismanagement by the military fine, with General Min Aung Hlaing junta and demanded reforms being able to adapt and cooperate, but towards democracy. The protests at the same time maintaining military that occurred on August 8, 1988, or rule by hampering any attempts made also known as 8888 Uprising, was by the NLD to amend the constitution later recorded as one of the most and to restrict military power. Suu brutal acts of violence committed Kyi even received criticism from the by military forces. It was reported international community when she was that around 5,000 people were killed accused of defending the Myanmar as a result of military violence. In military who were held responsible the same year, Suu Kyi founded for the massacre of the Rohingya the NLD and began to push down people. The coup that took place on the military government to hold February 1, 2021 indicated a conflicting democratic elections. relationship. This is the question of Under domestic and many analysts, what prompted the international pressure, in 1990, military to stage a coup this time, and Myanmar held a general election what does this coup hope to achieve? which was won by the NLD. The The Myanmar military stated military junta refused the result and that this coup was a response to the ordered Suu Kyi to be placed under alleged fraud in the 2020 general elections. The coup leader, General What concerns public the Min Aung Hlaing, had promised free most is the presence of the 77th and fair elections in his speech. He also Light Infantry Division to repel claimed that his government would be demonstrations. This division was different from the military regime that blamed for the mass executions formerly ruled for 49 years who treated of Rohingya people in Rakhine in the protesters in a brutal manner in 2017. Despite a series of abuses 1988 and 2007. However, judging of power, there have been no from the acts taken by the military in reports of significant casualties on maintaining its influence, this coup the demonstrators’ side for more at the very least can be regarded as a than two weeks of military rule. desperate act posed by the military Violence during protests has indeed over the absolute victory achieved by decreased compared to the previous the NLD during the 2020 elections. military junta reign. 9 The NLD won 396 of the 476 seats in UN’s Special Envoy Christine the parliament. NLD’s dominance Schraner Burgener has warned in the parliament could bring about the deputy head of Myanmar's significant changes that could lead to military junta that any use of force constitutional changes that weaken the against protesters would have dire role of the military in politics. consequences, and the international Even though it is still too early to community is always monitoring achieve a conclusive analysis, in any their every move. This warning is case, the way the military took over of utmost importance in order to power and handled protests can be protect the people of Myanmar. used as an early indication in choosing Moreover, the warning was strategic options to make every effort conveyed through a communication to get the democratization process in channel that rarely occured between Myanmar back on track. The promise the military junta and the outside of 'new fair elections’ was not reflected world. This proves that there is still in the military acts. The taking over of hope of a mediation insofar as the a legally elected civilian government junta is willing to communicate is clearly antithetical to the principles with the international community. of democracy and constitutional Such opportunity must be leveraged governance, rule of law, good by Indonesia and ASEAN with the governance, and respect and protection aim of restoring Myanmar's normal of human rights. The arrests of Suu Kyi condition. and other political figures also served as a grim reminder to the Myanmar Viable Efforts for ASEAN people of the arbitrary detention, The coup in Myanmar has torture and kidnappings that occurred sparked calls for ASEAN to play during the previous coup. This a more active role in the region. year’s coup was also followed by the Brunei Darussalam, as the chair of imposition of curfews, disconnection of ASEAN, has implored Myanmar to internet networks (internet blackout), seek dialogue, reconciliation and crowd restrictions, deployment of the return to normalcy. Citing the armored vehicles and use of force to ASEAN Charter, Brunei implored thwart protests. Myanmar to adhere to the principles of democracy, rule of law and good Many interests have forced those governance, respect and protection of states to take a more careful approach human rights as well as fundamental in responding to the unfolding freedom, and also reminded that developments. And now the question political stability in ASEAN is is, how should ASEAN respond to essential for achieving a peaceful, the mounting pressure to play a more stable and prosperous ASEAN active role? The foregoing explanation Community. has described that there are still The response from ASEAN opportunities to push for a mediation, community so far has been anything so what are the obstacles currently but significant, as individual member faced by ASEAN? states show dissenting views. ASEAN has adhered to the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, principle of non-intervention since Prawit Wongsuwan, stated that the this regional organization was formed coup is Myanmar’s internal affairs.
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