Top EU official: Belarus is 'weaponizing human suffering' to attack Europe. Devotees bathe in sacred river covered in toxic foam. Satellite images of mockup US Navy ships in China spark concern. These farmers say this drug could boost their country's economy. It was as if time had rewound a decade. From until , successive military regimes ruled Myanmar , formerly known as Burma, with an iron fist -- asserting their absolute power over the people through fear and brutality.
But six years ago, there was hope of change when Aung San Suu Kyi -- a Nobel Peace Prize winner and former political prisoner -- formed the first civilian government with her National League for Democracy Party NLD after winning a landslide in elections.
Soldiers stand guard along a blockaded road near Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyidaw on February 2, That all changed Monday, when the military seized power in a coup , arrested year-old Suu Kyi, cut internet services and took news channels off the air. A presenter on the military-owned news channel announced that the year-old commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing was now running the country.
Read More. Devastated residents in the country's biggest city, Yangon, said history was repeating itself. With many still bearing the mental and physical scars of the past, they expressed fears that the intervening years were all for nothing. Myanmar has changed markedly in the years since the military last ruled, with more social freedoms, foreign investment and a growing middle class. While deep economic and inequality issues, conflict, and ethnic strife remain, Myanmar is a different place today than it was 10 or 20 years ago, especially in the major cities.
But the imperfect transition was not working for everyone. Min Aung Hlaing, right, Myanmar military's commander in chief, in Naypyidaw. The military justified their takeover by alleging widespread voter fraud during the November general election, which gave Suu Kyi's party another overwhelming victory and dashed hopes for some military figures that an opposition party they had backed might take power democratically. But according to analysts a simpler explanation is that the coup, as most usually are, was driven by power and the personal ambition of an army chief who felt he was losing control and respect.
And he put his personal ambition ahead of the good of the military and the good of the country," said Yangon-based analyst Richard Horsey. CNN was unable to reach Myanmar's military for comment. What is the Tatmadaw and who is Min Aung Hlaing? The first thing to know about Myanmar's military -- officially known as the Tatmadaw -- is that it never really gave up political power. Just over a decade ago, the military chiefs put in place a plan that would permit the country to hold elections, liberalize the economy, and transition into a semi-democracy while still maintaining their authority.
The constitution allocated the military a quarter of seats in parliament, giving it effective veto power over constitutional amendments, and the generals kept control of three key ministries -- defense, border and home affairs. Min Aung Hlaing, commander in chief of the Myanmar armed forces, pictured in Yangon on July 19, For 50 years, the military was the most powerful institution in the country.
The army had control of the government, economy and every facet of life. Its sustained conflict with ethnic minorities has displaced hundreds of thousands of people, and rights groups have long linked soldiers to atrocities and human rights abuses, such as rape, torture and other war crimes.
A string of ruthless military dictators turned Myanmar into a pariah state. Ne Win, who seized power in a coup, plunged the country into poverty with his disastrous economic and socialist policies. The general was alleged to have made policy decisions based on the advice of astrologers and demonetized several large denominations of Myanmar's currency, replacing them with bank notes that added up to nine.
Despite the ostensible democratic reforms in the country in recent years, the military commander-in-chief retained powerful influence , including command of the defense, border affairs and home affairs ministries, whose reach is pervasive. In July , the year-old and three other military leaders were barred from traveling to the U. Further sanctions were placed on the military leaders in December of the same year to freeze any U.
After a series of protests known as the Uprising, another coup in brought to power the military junta that would rule for the next 22 years. Farmaner, the director of Burma Campaign UK, says that the coup represents a significant change in strategy for the military, but that it will put them under increased pressure.
Write to Amy Gunia at amy. By Amy Gunia. Supporters of the National League for Democracy NLD party hold posters with the image of Myanmar state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi as supporters celebrate in front of the party's headquarters in Yangon on November 9, , as NLD officials said they were confident of a landslide victory in the weekend's election.
Related Stories. America Needs to Get Back to Facts. Already a print subscriber? Though he has not had a very high international profile, Myint Swe has played a key role in the military and in politics. During the monk-led popular protests known internationally as the saffron revolution, he took charge of restoring order in Yangon after weeks of unrest in a crackdown that killed dozens of people.
Hundreds were arrested. The ministry oversees police, prisons and intelligence. Prior to the coup, he had been considered one of the favourites to replace Gen Min Aung Hlaing when he reached mandatory retirement age this year. He is five years younger than Min Aung Hlaing. The military has kept U Wunna Maung Lwin, 68, in his post as foreign minister. U Wunna Maung Lwin had a long history with the military, serving for nearly three decades before retiring as a colonel.
He has also served as the representative to the UN and as foreign minister His father, Lt Col Maung Lwin , was minister of foreign affairs from to
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