2 years after Myanmar coup, resistance to military rule is holding strong
NBCNov 25, 2022
The Facts
The UK and Canada have joined the US in opposing plans by Myanmar's military junta to hold polls, claiming that a vote without political parties — which together won 89% of the seats in the 2020 election — risks aggravating unrest and violence.
Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said Thursday that the self-governing island will continue to observe the junta's plans and "advocate for human rights protection and democracy in Myanmar."
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Myanmar's State Administration Council has been taking several measures to ensure security, peace and stability, rule of law, and economic development in preparation for free and fair multiparty democratic general elections to hand over the power to the elected political party. The international community should support these efforts as they are the only way out of this crisis.
Pro-establishment narrative
It's outrageous that Gen. Min Aung Hlaing — the very leader who staged a coup against Myanmar's democratically elected government in February 2021 to establish a brutal military regime that has since undertaken a violent campaign against its people — is now trying to portray himself as a democratic leader. What the junta really wants is a state-managed sham election without the opposition camp.