After the Military Junta usurped state power, extended its power for another 6 months, on February 2, 37 townships were declared under martial law.
In that announcement, 11 townships in the Sagaing division of the North Western Command area, where the battle between the local defense and Military Council troops is still fierce, are also included.
However the martial law issued by the military will not have any effect on the revolutionary forces, said an official of the Banmauk People’s Defense Force.
“ We don’t care about any law they impose, and we will overcome any obstacles to reach our goal. This martial law announcement may have been issued because they have become weak among themselves, and their announcement will not have any effect on us,” said an official from the Banmauk People’s Defense Force.
He added that since the People’s Defense Forces have controlled 70 percent of Banmauk Township, the Military Council’s martial law could only affect the people living in the urban area.
There is a lack of trust between the Military Council troops stationed in Banmauk Township and the police departments under the military. On February 2 the same day that the Martial Law was announced, a shooting occurred between their military units.
In the townships declared under martial law, regional commanders can exercise the judicial system, in addition to security, social, trade, and transportation.
The townships designated under martial law do not have to be report to the regional chief minister, but will be report directly to the local chairman of the State Administration Council.
The Military Council has announced that in the townships that have been designated to apply martial law, the accused can be tried by military courts, and action can be taken against those who commit treason, defamation of the government, crimes under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
In addition lesser crimes of Unlawful Association Act, crimes of obstruction of government employees appointed by military and the military council, as well as corruption, the section of theArms Act and the section on the news media can also be dealt with by military courts.
The Myaung Revolutionary Defense Force commented “ The martial law announced by the
military will have no effect on our revolutionary forces. We are already facing the worst There is nothing worse than our situation. We are mainly concerned about the people.”
Myaung is the township where most of the defense forces from the 3 divisions live, and the Military Council can only control some of the city’ s neighborhoods and the Kyauk Yit gate station, so it has been designated as a military administration area, the defense forces said.
In the Htigyaing area, the martial law announced by the military also has no effect on the revolutionary forces, but the people are urged to be more cautious than at present ,and to avoid the war zones as the conflict may intensify.
“ It is very obvious that the martial law was issued because of a situation that is out of control for the Junta forces,l. I want to say one thing to the people. Don’t be stubborn. some people think that there is no need to exercise caution. But what I want to say now is that since martial law has been issued, be more careful than before,” said the revolutionary group based in Htigyaing Township, where martial law has been declared.
In these areas, during the period of martial law, criminal offenses can be heard by military courts, and if found guilty, they can be sentenced to death, imprisonment for an indefinite period of time, and the maximum penalty. In addition, it is stated that there will be no right to appeal the decisionof the militry court.
Two years after the military coup, the military council extended the state of emergency for another six months using Article 425, and is also preparing to hold a general election next August.
