The Military Council has extended the period of emergency in Myanmar for the fifth time, citing the ongoing abnormal situation adding another 6 months to their rule by decree.

On January 31st, the 3rd anniversary of the coup, the Military Council convened a meeting of the National Defense and Security Council (NDSC), announcing an additional 6-month extension of the state of emergency in accordance with Article 425 of the Constitution.

Interim President Myint Swe has proposed to coup leader Min Aung Hlaing the adoption of another 6-month extension of the state of emergency, in accordance with the constitution, to sustain the ongoing process, acknowledging that the situation has not yet returned to normalcy, according to Popular News.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing the coup leader acknowledged the need to restore Myanmar to a state of normalcy, stability and peace the report added. During the NDSC meeting, topics of discussion included the ongoing conflicts in ethnic areas, election preparedness, and arrangements for the upcoming national census.

On February 1st, 2021, the Military Council carried out a coup, overthrowing the democratically elected government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), which had emerged victorious in the election.

Since the one-year anniversary of the coup, the Military Council has consistently extended the state of emergency for an additional 6 months, marking this the fifth time, as part of its efforts to prolong its rule following the coup.

Currently ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) and resistance forces are undertaking intense revolutionary operations against the coup regime throughout Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, prompting the Junta to employ a desperate strategy utilizing the Army, Air Force and Navy to prevent the loss of crucial strategic military bases and control over towns and cities.

The fact that the Junta needs to keep renewing their emergency rule every six months and that 3 years after the coup, and the regime has failed to impose their administration on a hostile populace, is a clear indication that the regime is struggling to hang on, in the face of attacks on many frontlines from an increasingly unified revolutionary movement.