Myanmar’s Junta Extends State Of Emergency For Yet Another Six Months

Myanmar’s military junta extended a state of emergency for another six months on Wednesday – the sixth time the junta has approved an extension since removing a civilian government from power in 2021.

Members of the National Defense and Security Council unanimously agreed to the extension, which puts off the junta’s often-delayed plans for multi-party national elections until next year.

Myanmar’s Constitution mandates that elections must be held within six months after a state of emergency is lifted.

The extension also gives the military broad extra-constitutional powers amid ongoing armed conflict by resistance forces battling the army in many parts of Myanmar.

“It is necessary to restore peace and stability because of ongoing terrorist activities,” state-run media said of the extension, referring to the armed resistance.

The meeting in Naypyidaw was presided over by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who officially signed off on the extension asacting president. He added the title last week after the previous nominal head of state, Myint Swe, went on medical leave.

Min Aung Hlaing has led the military junta as chairman of the State Administration Council – the junta’s formal name – since the February 2021 coup d’état.

The junta has repeatedly extended emergency rule since seizing power from the democratically elected government of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, who were arrested and subsequently jailed on what rights groups said were politically motivated charges.

“The Burma military regime’s extension of the state of emergency is at odds with the aspirations of the people of Burma, including their continued strong opposition to military rule,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“We call on the regime to engage with all stakeholders to pursue a path toward a peaceful, representative, and democratic future for Burma,” he said. “The regime must end its violence against the people of Burma, release those unjustly detained, and allow in unhindered humanitarian access.”

Declining value of kyat

The military failed to hold elections in 2023 as its control of the country slipped. Opponents had dismissed the planned election as ashambecause it appeared likely to exclude parties ousted from power by the coup.

In the meantime, experts say, junta mismanagement hasdecimated the economy, the value of the kyat has plummeted and foreign investors have fled the country.

Currency traders on Wednesday reported a market exchange rate of 5,370 kyats per U.S. dollar in the commercial capital of Yangon – a record low.

A gold trader who requested anonymity for security reasons said that the rise in foreign exchange rates had also led to an increase in gold prices.

“As long as the price of foreign currency increases, the price of gold will continue to rise,” he said. “That’s how it is. It has increased dramatically and sharply … within the span of one or two days.”

The decline in the kyat’s value has led to rising commodity prices across the country.

“Prices have tripled, with daily increases of 50 or even 100 kyats for some products,” a housewife in Dagon Myothit (North) township in the Yangon region said. “Prices are rising almost every day.”

When RFA contacted an official at the junta-run Central Bank to inquire about restoring the kyat’s record-low value, an official only responded that relevant officials were working to address the issue.

RFA was unable to reach junta spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun to ask about the declining currency rates.