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67-571: Construction of the Buddha began on 14 June 2020, and was announced in state-run newspapers in the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état . The image's name Maravijaya, literally means "to conquer Mara (မာန်နတ်)." Ongoing construction was overseen by allies of the military junta, Ashin Chekinda and Sitagu Sayadaw . State-run media was used to solicit donations from the public for the ongoing project, which cost US$ 27.6 million . Close associates of

134-746: A 1973 referendum , the 1974 constitution was the second constitution to be written. It created a unicameral legislature called the People's Assembly (Pyithu Hluttaw), represented by members of the Burma Socialist Programme Party The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma. Each term was 4 years. Ne Win became the president at this time. Upon taking power in September 1988,

201-624: A United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the coup. China and Russia are reportedly the main suppliers of weapons to the Myanmar Army. Chinese foreign direct investment in Myanmar totalled $ 19 billion in 2019, compared with $ 700 million from the EU. The Financial Times argues that Russia is supportive of the junta in order to sell more arms to them. Israel has been known to supply small arms, drones, patrol boats and spyware to

268-659: A buddhābhiṣeka ceremony attended by 900 monks, coinciding with the full moon day of Waso . In a sermon during the ceremony, the Kyaukme Sayadaw, Candanasāra, distilled the essence of Buddhism into three short phrases using a three-finger gesture , appearing to indirectly criticise the military junta for violating these fundamental precepts. That same day, Min Aung Hlaing removed Ko Ko, the incumbent minister for religion and culture from his post, citing 'health reasons.' The statue's attributes are closely connected with

335-498: A "vanity project" of Min Aung Hlaing , the junta's leader, and seen as a way for him to gain public legitimacy, as a protector and promoter of Buddhism, to whitewash his legacy, and to prolong his rule. Previous military juntas have constructed similar temples, including the marble Kyauktawgyi Buddha in Yangon. Min Aung Hlaing specifically constructed a new road to visit the construction site, in order to bypass Naypyidaw Prison , which

402-552: A British military governor governed the colony. During the Japanese occupation of Burma from 1942 to 1945, a Japanese military commander headed the government, while the British-appointed governor headed the colony in exile. Burma became independent in 1948. There was a president from 1948 to 1962, and then 1974 and 1988. Between 1962 and 1974 and between 1988 and 2011, Burma was headed by military regimes. The office of

469-701: A government housing complex in Naypyidaw. Following the coup, the NLD arranged for the MPs to remain housed in the complex until 6 February. Social media users began calling on MPs to convene a parliamentary session within a government guesthouse, since the group met the Constitution's quorum requirements. In response, the military issued another order giving MPs 24 hours to leave the guesthouse premises. On 4 February 70 NLD MPs took an oath of office , in clear defiance of

536-640: A mandatory retirement age of 65 for the Armed Forces' Commander-in-Chief. Min Aung Hlaing , the incumbent, would have been forced to retire on his 65th birthday in July 2021. Further, the Constitution empowers solely the President, in consultation with the National Defence and Security Council , with the authority to appoint Min Aung Hlaing's successor, which could have provided an opportunity for

603-517: A president resign for any reason or die in office, the Presidential Electoral College will meet and each of the three committees will nominate a candidate to finish out the prior President's term so that the terms of the legislature and presidency are synchronised. The candidate who receives the most votes from the nominees is elected. This process is similar to the one prescribed by the 1947 Constitution , in which MPs from

670-535: Is also on the Naypyidaw Ring Road. 2021 Myanmar coup d%27%C3%A9tat Military coup d'état successful [REDACTED] Government of Myanmar [REDACTED]   Tatmadaw Bombings and attacks Coup d'états Protests Anti-Muslim violence Related topics A coup d'état in Myanmar began on the morning of 1 February 2021, when democratically elected members of

737-484: Is elected by members of parliament , not by the general population; specifically the Presidential Electoral College , a three-committee body composed of members of parliament, elects the president. Each of the three committees, made up of Amyotha Hluttaw , Pyithu Hluttaw members of parliament, or military-appointed lawmakers, nominates a candidate for presidency. After the 2015 election,

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804-436: Is no constitutional mechanism for the transfer of presidential authority outside the order of succession, making the constitutionality of the transfer questionable according to legal experts. Though a constitutionally powerful position, the presidency is a largely symbolic post under the current military government, with the only presidential action having been to declare and extend the state of emergency. The president

871-418: Is not directly elected by Burmese voters; instead, they are indirectly elected by the Presidential Electoral College ( သမ္မတရွေးချယ်တင်မြှောက်ရေးအဖွဲ့ ), an electoral body made of three separate committees. One committee is composed of MPs who represent the proportions of MPs elected from each Region or State; another is composed of MPs who represent the proportions of MPs elected from each township population;

938-482: Is the present constitution of Myanmar. Prior to 1863, different regions of modern-day Burma were governed separately. From 1862 to 1923, the colonial administration, housed in Rangoon's Secretariat building, was headed by a chief commissioner (1862–1897) or a lieutenant-governor (1897–1923), who headed the administration, underneath the governor-general of India . From 31 January 1862 to 1 May 1897, British Burma

1005-474: The 2008 Constitution of Myanmar was drafted. Between 2011 and 2015, a tentative democratic transition began, and elections held in 2015 resulted in a victory for Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). However, the military retained substantial power, including the right to appoint 1 ⁄ 4 of all parliament members. The 2021 coup occurred in the aftermath of

1072-549: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had released US$ 372 million in cash loans to the Central Bank of Myanmar , as part of an emergency aid package, to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic . The funds came with no conditions, and without any precedent for refunds. In response to potential concerns regarding proper use of the funds by the military regime, an IMF spokesperson stated "It would be in

1139-774: The November 2020 general election invalid and stated its intent to hold a new election at the end of the state of emergency . The coup d'état occurred the day before the Parliament of Myanmar was to swear in the members elected in the 2020 election , thereby preventing this from occurring. President Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained, along with ministers, their deputies , and members of Parliament . On 1 February 2021, Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi were arrested on charges that independent analysts regarded as part of an attempt to legitimize

1206-672: The Parliament 's Chamber of Nationalities and Chamber of Deputies elected the president by secret ballot. The President was then responsible for appointing a prime minister (on the advice of the Chamber of Deputies), who was constitutionally recognised as the head of government and led the Cabinet . Before independence, Myanmar had two quasi-constitutions, The government of Burma Act, 1935 and Constitution of Burma under Japanese occupation, 1943. After independence, Myanmar adopted three constitutions in 1947, 1974 and 2008. The 2008 constitution

1273-552: The Union Parliament , consisting of two chambers, the 125-seat Chamber of Nationalities ( လူမျိုးစုလွှတ်တော် Lumyozu Hluttaw ) and the Chamber of Deputies ( ပြည်သူ့လွှတ်တော် Pyithu Hluttaw ), whose seat numbers were determined by the population size of respective constituencies. The 1947 constitution was largely based on the 1946 Yugoslav Constitution , and several Burmese officials visited Yugoslavia. Approved in

1340-568: The United Kingdom , France , the United States , and Australia . On 1 February 2021, NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt said that Aung San Suu Kyi , Win Myint , Han Tha Myint , and other party leaders had been "taken" in an early morning raid. Myo Nyunt added that he expected to be also detained shortly. Numerous communications channels stopped working – phone lines to the capital, Naypyidaw , were interrupted, state-run MRTV said it

1407-504: The general election on 8 November 2020, in which the NLD won 396 out of 476 seats in parliament, an even larger margin of victory than in the 2015 election. The military's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party , won only 33 seats. The army disputed the results, claiming that the vote was fraudulent. The coup attempt had been rumored for several days, prompting statements of concern from Western nations such as

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1474-516: The 2008 constitution, the NLD participated in the 2012 by-election for 46 seats and won a landslide victory, with Aung San Suu Kyi becoming a member of parliament, alongside 42 others from her party. On 15 March 2016, the Assembly of the Union elected Htin Kyaw as the 9th president of Myanmar. He resigned on 21 March 2018 and Myint Swe became acting president. On 28 March 2018, the Assembly of

1541-472: The Burmese government, though the military prime minister leads the cabinet under the current state of emergency. Acting President Min Aung Hlaing , the head of the military and prime minister since 2021, is the current holder since Acting President Myint Swe transferred his powers in July 2024. Myint Swe had himself been installed by Min Aung Hlaing through a military coup d'état on 1 February 2021 . There

1608-465: The Export and Import Law, for allegedly importing unlicensed communications devices used by her security detail, after conducting a raid on her home in the capital. The Export and Import Law carries a potential prison term of 3 years and/or a fine, and was previously used in 2017 to prosecute journalists for flying a drone above the Assembly of the Union. Meanwhile, Win Myint was charged with violating

1675-470: The Myanmar military. On 27 September 2017, an Israeli court issued an order banning Israeli arms industries from exporting weapons to Myanmar. Despite the ban order, Myanmar military received training and weapons from Israeli defence companies. Myanmar army officers continued their visits to Israeli arms shows. The Myanmar military government did not attend the 27 October 2021 East Asia Summit . The United States and ASEAN (chaired by Brunei ) criticised

1742-521: The NLD, activists, and a former general. On 13 February 2021, a viral post online showed that the military-run Ministry of Information (MOI) pressured the press not to use the words " junta " and " regime " in the media in the military's first attempt to restrict the freedom-of-press. The military regime issued an arrest warrant for seven well-known activists and influencers including Min Ko Naing for "using their fame to spread writing and speaking on

1809-718: The Natural Disaster Management Law, specifically for waving at a passing NLD convoy in September 2020, thereby violating rules against election campaigning during the COVID-19 pandemic . On 6 February 2021, Sean Turnell , the Australian economic advisor to the civilian government, was arrested. On 8 February 2021 and 9 February 2021, the military government issued orders to impose curfew from 8:00   pm to 4:00   am in Yangon and other major cities and restrict gatherings of 5 or more people in

1876-619: The State Administration Council and prime minister for himself to lead the government. The president is the head of state and head of government. The position of President was created in 1948, with the adoption of the Burmese Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom . Since then, eleven people have held the office (with two of them doing so on multiple occasions). Due to the country's long period of military rule, it has not been uncommon for

1943-503: The civilian arm of the government to appoint a more reform-minded military officer as Commander-in-Chief. Hlaing's lack of power would have exposed him to potential prosecution and accountability for alleged war crimes during the Rohingya conflict in various international courts. Min Aung Hlaing had also hinted a potential entry into politics as a civilian, after his retirement. The activist group Justice for Myanmar has also noted

2010-405: The country following the announcement. On 10 January 2022, Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for possessing walkie-talkies in her home and for violating COVID-19 protocols. On 1 August 2022, Myanmar junta's extended the state of emergency for another six months, after the leader Min Aung Hlaing 's request to "serve for an additional 6 months". The decision

2077-459: The country's ruling party , the National League for Democracy (NLD), were deposed by the Tatmadaw , Myanmar's military, which then vested power in a military junta . Acting President of Myanmar Myint Swe proclaimed a year-long state of emergency and declared power had been transferred to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing . It declared the results of

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2144-543: The country's National Disaster Law. On 17 February 2021, the military issued arrest warrants on six more celebrities for urging civil servants to join the civil disobedience movement. On 26 February 2021, the Myanmar ambassador to the United Nations , Kyaw Moe Tun , condemned the coup by the Tatmadaw. He was sacked from his post the next day. On the same day, a Japanese freelance journalist named Yuki Kitazumi

2211-497: The country. Dubbed the 8888 Uprising , the civil unrest was sparked by economic mismanagement, leading Ne Win to step down. In September 1988, the military's top leaders formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council ( SLORC ), which then seized power. Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of General Aung San , the country's founder, became a notable pro-democracy activist during this period. In 1990, free elections were allowed by

2278-404: The coup, the civilian-appointed Union Election Commission had categorically rejected the military's claims of voter fraud, citing the lack of evidence to support the military's claims of 8.6 million irregularities in voter lists across Myanmar's 314 townships. The coup may have been driven by the military's goal to preserve its central role in Burmese politics. The Defence Services Act imposes

2345-594: The coup. During the coup, soldiers also detained several Buddhist monks who had led the 2007 Saffron Revolution , including the Myawaddy Sayadaw and Shwe Nyar War Sayadaw , outspoken critics of the military. 8888 Uprising activist leaders, including Mya Aye , were also arrested. As of 4 February, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners had identified 133 officials and lawmakers and 14 civil society activists in detention by

2412-430: The extraconstitutional post of State Counsellor of Myanmar was created for Aung San Suu Kyi , the leader of the majority party, the National League for Democracy , because she was ineligible for the presidency. She served as the de facto head of government until she was deposed in the 2021 coup d'état by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing , who created the extraconstitutional posts of chairman of

2479-584: The firewall were widely circulated among Myanmar social media users, which prompts protestors to demonstrate outside the Chinese Embassy. China denied the news as rumours. On 10 February 2021, civil servants at Kayah State protested against the coup, which also included police officers stationed there when they refused orders from their superior to return to work. On 12 February 2021, at midnight, members of Myanmar's military and police arrested government ministers, election officials, senior members of

2546-553: The interests of the government, and certainly the people of Myanmar that those funds are indeed used accordingly." The IMF did not directly address any concerns regarding the independence of the Central Bank, given the military's appointment of Than Nyein, an ally, as governor. On 16 September, the IMF acknowledged it was unable to ascertain whether the military regime was using the funds as intended (i.e., "to tackle COVID and support

2613-506: The junta forces and 26,234 individuals have been arrested. In March 2021, three prominent members of the National League for Democracy ( NLD ) died in police custody, and in July 2022, the junta executed four pro-democracy activists. In honour of the anniversary for Myanmar's 76th year of independence in January 2024, more than 9,000 prisoners are slated to receive amnesty , leading to their release from prison. In February 2024, it

2680-406: The junta's treatment of political prisoners, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen described Myanmar's decision to skip the summit as "regrettable". US President Joe Biden stated: "[…] We must address the tragedy caused by the military coup which is increasingly undermining regional stability," and called for the "military regime to end the violence, release all political prisoners and return to

2747-419: The latter being dismissed and arrested. The prime minister position was abolished on 30 March 2011, according to the current Constitution (adopted in 2008 ). It provided that the president is both the head of state and de jure head of government. But after the 2015 general election , as Aung San Suu Kyi was constitutionally barred from becoming President, a position called State Counsellor , similar to

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2814-531: The military as a result of the coup. Soldiers were seen in Naypyidaw and the largest city, Yangon . The military subsequently announced on military-controlled Myawaddy TV that it had taken control of the country for one year. A statement signed by Acting President Myint Swe declared that responsibility for "legislation, administration and judiciary" had been transferred to Min Aung Hlaing . The National Defence and Security Council – chaired by acting president Myint Swe and attended by top military officers –

2881-469: The military based State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) suspended the 1974 constitution. The SLORC called a constitutional convention in 1993, but it was suspended in 1996 when the National League for Democracy (NLD) boycotted it, calling it undemocratic. The constitutional convention was again called in 2004, but without the NLD . Myanmar remained without a constitution until 2008. On 9 April 2008,

2948-482: The military formed a temporary caretaker government at the behest of U Nu , the country's democratically elected prime minister, to resolve political infighting. The military voluntarily restored civilian government after holding the 1960 Burmese general election . Less than two years later, the military seized power in the 1962 coup , which under the leadership of General Ne Win , precipitated 26 years of military rule . In 1988, nationwide protests broke out in

3015-399: The military government of Myanmar (Burma) released its proposed constitution for the country to be put to a vote in public referendum on 10 May 2008, as part of its roadmap to democracy . The constitution is hailed by the military as heralding a return to democracy, but the opposition sees it as a tool for continuing military control of the country. In spite of its earlier opposition to

3082-596: The military's seizure of power. Both were remanded in custody for two weeks. Between 16 February and 1 April, five additional charges were leveled against Aung San Suu Kyi. Armed insurgencies by the People's Defence Force of the National Unity Government erupted throughout Myanmar in response to the military government 's crackdown on anti-coup protests . As of 13 March 2024, at least 50,000 people, including at least 8,000 civilians (570 of whom were children), have been killed by

3149-405: The military, including businessmen and high-ranking retired military officers, contributed 33 billion kyats (est. US$ 10 million) to the project. In March 2023, the Buddha's image was reportedly seen "crying", as stripes appeared beneath the statue's eyes, prompting the junta to cover its face and bar visitors and photographs of the statue. On 1 August 2023, the statue was officially consecrated in

3216-419: The military, under the assumption that the military enjoyed popular support. Ultimately, the elections resulted in a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD). However, the military refused to cede power and placed her under house arrest. The military remained in power for another 22 years until 2011, following the military's roadmap to democracy , during which

3283-590: The most vulnerable people.") Myanmar's Ministry of Planning and Finance did not respond to a request for comment on how funds had been appropriated. A lobbyist for the military junta reported that the junta would like to improve relations with the United States and distance Myanmar from China, believing Myanmar had grown too close to China under Aung San Suu Kyi. China is depicted in Western media as having hegemony over Myanmar. China and Russia vetoed

3350-410: The number nine, which is considered auspicious in Burmese numerology.The image's combined weight of 5,292 tons has numerological significance, as the individual digits can add up to nine, while the throne's height of 18 feet (5.5 m) and statue's height of 63 feet (19 m) also add up to the number nine. The statue is also surrounded by 720 stone stupas. The project has been criticised for being

3417-569: The outlets were prohibited from publishing and broadcasting in any type of media and by using any sort of technology. On 9 March 2021, Kyaw Zwar Minn , the Burmese ambassador to the United Kingdom, was recalled after he called for release of Aung San Suu Kyi. On 18 October 2021, Min Aung Hlaing announced the release of 5,636 prisoners jailed for protesting against the coup. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners , more than 7,300 protesters remained imprisoned across

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3484-458: The path of democracy." President of Myanmar The president of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar ( Burmese : နိုင်ငံတော်‌ သမ္မတ ; MLCTS : nuing ngam tau samma.ta. ) is the head of state and constitutional head of government of Myanmar . The president chairs the National Defence and Security Council and normally leads the Cabinet of Myanmar , the executive branch of

3551-401: The position of Prime Minister , was established for her in 2016. She served as the de facto head of government and the dominant state figure until she was removed with the 2021 coup d'état. The president has the sole authority to convene meetings of the National Defence and Security Council , a body responsible for Myanmar's security and defense affairs. The Constitution of Myanmar sets

3618-423: The president was restored in 2011. The 1947 constitution was drafted by Chan Htoon and was used from the country's independence in 1948 to 1962, when the constitution was suspended by the socialist Union Revolutionary Council , led by military general Ne Win . The national government consisted of three branches: judicial , legislative and executive . The legislative branch was a bicameral legislature called

3685-525: The prime minister to be a serving (or recently retired) military officer . The actual power of the prime minister has considerably varied over time, depending on who holds the office. In 2004, a power struggle between the then– head of state , Senior General Than Shwe , chairman of the State Peace and Development Council ( SPDC ), and the prime minister at the time , General Khin Nyunt , resulted in

3752-568: The principle qualifications that the candidate must meet to be eligible to the office of the President. in Chapter 1: The President, Part I: The Federation of Myanmar in the Constitution of Myanmar . President has to be: According to the Constitution of Myanmar , the president: Moreover, upon taking oath in office, the president is constitutionally forbidden from taking part in any political party activities (Chapter III, 64). The president

3819-582: The province was led by a lieutenant governor. In 1937, Burma was formally separated from British India and began to be administered as a separate British colony, with a fully elected bicameral legislature, consisting of the Senate and House of Representatives. From 2 January 1923 to 4 January 1948, British Burma was led by a Governor, who led the cabinet and was responsible for the colony's defence, foreign relations, finance, and ethnic regions ( Frontier Areas and Shan States ). From 1 January 1944 to 31 August 1946,

3886-490: The public spaces. On 9 February 2021, the NLD's headquarters in Yangon was raided by Myanmar police . Myanmar's military regime distributed a draft for the controversial Cyber Security Law to internet service providers, asking them to provide comments by 15 February 2021. The law was widely criticised by IT communities as it violates human rights by putting citizens under digital surveillance and severely restricting freedom of speech. News of China's involvement in building

3953-481: The significant financial and business interests of Min Aung Hlaing and his family as a potential motivating factor for the coup. Min Aung Hlaing oversees two military conglomerates, the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), while his daughter, son, and daughter-in-law have substantial business holdings in the country. A few days before the coup,

4020-437: The social media that would disturb the nation's peace process". On 15 February 2021, the military deployed armoured vehicles across the cities, in an attempt to silence the demonstrations in the country. Thousands of protestors in different cities across Myanmar had been calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. On 16 February, as protests continued, Aung San Suu Kyi was given a new criminal charge on allegations of violating

4087-562: The third is of military-appointed MPs personally nominated by the Defence Services ' commander-in-chief. Each of the three committees nominates a presidential candidate. Afterward, all the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw MPs vote for one of three candidates—the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected president, while the other two are elected as vice-presidents. The president serves for a term of 5 years. Should

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4154-432: Was announced that compulsory military service would be implemented. All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 were required to serve up to two years under military command and specialists such as doctors aged up to 45 were to serve for three years. Myanmar, also known as Burma , has been beset with political instability since it was granted independence from the United Kingdom in January 1948. Between 1958 and 1960,

4221-624: Was convened, following which a statement was issued by the military declaring that fresh elections would be held, and that power would only be transferred after they had concluded. The military also announced the removal of 24 ministers and deputies, for whom 11 replacements were named . On 2 February 2021, Min Aung Hlaing established the State Administration Council , with 11 members, as the executive governing body. On 3 February 2021, Myanmar police filed criminal charges against Aung San Suu Kyi, accusing her of violating

4288-538: Was detained by Myanmar officers at the Sanchaung township police station, but he was released hours later after Kitazumi explained that he clearly identified himself as a reporter. On 8 March 2021, state-controlled channel MRTV announced that the Ministry of Information revoked the licences for five local media outlets: Mizzima , Myanmar Now , DVB , 7 Day News , and Khit Thit Media . The announcement stated that

4355-468: Was headed by a chief commissioner. The subsequent expansion of British Burma, with the acquisitions of Upper Burma and the Shan States throughout this period increased the demands of the position, and led to an upgrade in the colonial leadership and an expansion of government (Burma was accorded a separate government and legislative council in 1897). Consequently, from 1 May 1897 to 2 January 1923,

4422-612: Was unable to broadcast due to "technical issues", and widespread Internet disruptions were reported beginning around 3 a.m. The military disrupted cellular services throughout the country, mirroring "kill switch" tactics previously employed in combat zones in Chin and Rakhine states. All the member banks under the Myanmar Banking Association suspended their financial services. Around 400 elected members of parliament (MPs) were placed under house arrest, confined to

4489-447: Was unanimously taken by the junta's National Defence and Security Council . Armed insurgencies by the People's Defence Force of the National Unity Government have erupted throughout Myanmar in response to the military government's crackdown on anti-coup protests. The military's motives for the coup remain unclear. Ostensibly, the military has posited that alleged voter fraud threatened national sovereignty . A few days before

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