Myanmar Places 60 Townships Under Military Control as ASEAN Calls for Prisoner Releases
Introduction
Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing has announced emergency orders that give the military control over government and legal matters in 60 townships across nine states and regions. This means these areas are now under military rule. At the same time, the Philippines, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has urged Myanmar to release more prisoners, including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Philippines described a recent amnesty as a positive step toward national dialogue.
Main Body
The orders, announced on April 24 through state media, cover townships in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan, and Rakhine States, as well as the Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay regions. The government said the aim is to 'end armed terrorism' and restore 'the rule of law' for a 90-day period. Under these orders, all administrative and judicial power is given to the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, General Ye Win Oo. He has passed these powers on to regional commanders. As a result, military commanders now have direct control over security operations and legal proceedings. They can put civilians on trial in military courts, with penalties that include long prison sentences or the death penalty. These measures are the first major use of power by Min Aung Hlaing since he became president in early April. He took office after a general election that international critics and domestic opposition groups said was neither free nor fair. The election was held after several extensions of a nationwide state of emergency that had been in place since the military takeover in February 2021. That coup removed the elected National League for Democracy government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. It led to large protests that later turned into an armed resistance movement across much of the country. On the same day, the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, issued a statement reaffirming the bloc's commitment to helping Myanmar find a peaceful and lasting solution to its political crisis. The statement encouraged more prisoner releases, specifically mentioning Aung San Suu Kyi, and described a recent amnesty as a positive development toward an inclusive national dialogue. Separately, Thailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow reported after a meeting with Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw that Suu Kyi is in good health and safe custody, while expressing concerns about her welfare. Earlier in the week, Min Aung Hlaing set a 100-day deadline for peace negotiations with anti-government armed groups. He invited both groups that signed and those that did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), which was originally signed with eight ethnic armed organizations in October 2015.
Conclusion
To sum up, Myanmar's government has given more military control over a large part of its territory while also trying to use diplomacy for dialogue. The international community, especially through ASEAN, continues to call for the release of political prisoners and a peaceful solution to the crisis that began with the 2021 coup.