#Myanmar, nestled between #India & #China, was a #British #colony. It gained independence in 1947.
In 1962 a military coup ushered in military rule.
In 1990, first elections in ~30 yrs, liberal #NLD leader Aung San #SuuKyi won with 80% of seats, but military #junta refused to cede power.
In 2010, next election in 20 yrs, military-backed #USDP barred prominent leaders of NLD from running. NLD boycotted the elections, and USDP claimed victory.
They later released Suu Kyi from house arrest.
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#Obama described the 2010 elections as "stolen" by #USDP
In 2015 elections #SuuKyi's #NLD party won absolute majority of seats in both chambers of parliament with 86% of seats, and Suu Kyi assumed role similar to PM.
In 2020 elections, USDP suffered even greater humiliation than in 2015 with < 7% of seats.
As election results began emerging, USDP rejected them.
Despite validation of NLD's overwhelming victory, USDP & Myanmar's military persistently alleged #ElectionFraud
[via wikipedia]
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On Feb 1, 2021, the day parliament was set to convene, Myanmar's military #Tatmadaw, detained Suu Kyi and other members of the ruling party.
The military announced it would REPLACE the existing election commission with a new one.
A #military media outlet indicated NEW elections would be held in about one year – though the military did NOT make an official commitment to that.
By the second day of the #coup, protests erupted nationwide.
That #civilWar is ongoing as of now, in 2024.
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⬆️ #Myanmar's army is losing in the ongoing #civilWar triggered by 2021 coup by military #junta that "stole" elections from #SuuKyi
Military leader, Min Aung #Hlaing, who led the coup, has faced plenty of international censure, is loathed by much of Myanmar's population, & is running out of friends
Now, one of his staunch allies, #MilitanrMonk Pauk Ko #Taw, part of an ultra-nationalist fringe of the #Buddhist clergy, has switched sides and is asking Hlaing to step aside
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#SuuKyi remains in detention, her whereabouts unknown. She faces 27 yrs prison for alleged treason & bribery, which she denies.
World leaders have repeatedly called for her release.
The Nobel laureate was detained at a decrepit, colonial-style residence until 2012.
That home, where #Obama & #Clinton visited her, is now up for auction by military-run court, which says the house arrest site worth at least $90 mln.
⬆️ Just like the military junta has #SuuKyi in detention, #Trump would like to imprison his current political rival #KamalaHarris — just as he promised to do to #Biden and #HillaryClinton ➡️ https://masto.ai/@Nonilex/113228374372321924 [via @Nonilex ]
But, just like military rule is eroding in #Myanmar as pro-democracy women are claiming equality for themselves, Trump will not succeed as #Harris and pro-democracy women fight to win in the #US.
https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2024/0927/Equality-as-birthright-in-Myanmar
#Trump has long threatened #legal action against his rivals, including President Joe #Biden & his 2016 rival, #HillaryClinton. This month he vowed to jail those “involved in unscrupulous behavior” this election, including #election workers, #lawyers, political operatives, #donors, & #voters, yet again attempting to sow doubt about the integrity of the election. #FactCheck #TrumpLies #TrumpIsUnfit #AbuseOfPower #law #VoteBlue #HarrisWalz2024
⬆️ #Myanmar's ousted leader #SuuKyi is still imprisoned. A senior member of her party and a close colleague of hers, who was arrested along with her by the military junta, has now died in prison.
Zaw Myint #Maung was serving a prison sentence of 29 years on fabricated charges of corruption, sedition and election fraud — similar to those against Suu Kyi.
This is the fate that awaits US opposition parties if #Trump wins reelection
Zaw Myint Maung, a senior member of Myanmar’s former ruling party arrested during the 2021 military takeover, has died. He had been serving a prison sentence that was considered politically motivated. He was a close colleague of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and spokesperson of her National League for Democracy party. He had been a second vice president and chief minister of the central Mandalay region before the army seized control of the government in 2021, arresting him, Suu Kyi and many top members of her NLD party and government. He died Monday. He was 72 and had leukemia.
Ramesh #NotGoingBack