Summary
Highlights
The Tatmadaw is accustomed to controlling the country, only yielding some power during the democratic transition in 2015 when the NLD won elections. The military felt its pride was challenged by the NLD's repeated electoral victories and its attempts to amend the constitution to reduce military influence.
On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military, known as the Tatmadaw, seized power, ousting democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi and ending Myanmar's democratic progress. A mass uprising and civil disobedience campaign followed, met with a brutal crackdown by security forces, turning parts of cities into battle zones.
Speculation about a coup grew after the military alleged widespread voter fraud in the 2020 general elections, where Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory. The military's request for an investigation was rejected by the election commission, leading to the coup. The NLD believed the military's actions stemmed from dissatisfaction with power-sharing arrangements.
Following the coup, the military swiftly arrested NLD politicians, including Secretary U Han Thiamin and Aung San Suu Kyi, along with thousands of others. This sparked widespread protests demanding the restoration of democracy, with demonstrators defying escalating use of force by security forces, which resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Myanmar has been largely military-ruled since its independence in 1948. The military sees itself as the guardian of the nation, intervening to prevent disintegration due to continuous civil wars and political crises. This self-perception historically justified their control and continued involvement in politics.
Decades of military rule isolated Myanmar diplomatically and severely damaged its economy, turning a once-rich nation into one of the region's poorest. Mass uprisings in 1988 (8888 Uprising) and 2007 (Saffron Revolution) were brutally suppressed, leading to many deaths and imprisonments, including Aung San Suu Kyi's extended house arrest.
In 2010, the military signaled a shift, launching a seven-step roadmap to democracy. The 2008 constitution, drafted by the Tatmadaw, was criticized for ensuring continued military dominance, including 25% unelected parliamentary seats and control over key ministries, granting them veto power over constitutional changes and preventing Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming president.
Despite constitutional limitations, President Thein Sein introduced political reforms. Aung San Suu Kyi was released in 2010, and power was nominally transferred to a civilian government in 2011. The 2015 elections, won by the NLD, marked a significant democratic step. However, the NLD's attempts to amend the constitution to reduce military power created a collision course, breaking down trust.
Myanmar's democratic experiment has ended, with Aung San Suu Kyi again at the mercy of the military. Over 500 people have died in protests, but the civil disobedience continues. The military, seeing itself as the nation's ultimate guardian, remains reluctant to fully withdraw from politics, making the future of democracy uncertain, especially with criminal charges against Suu Kyi.