Political Turmoil, Leadership Fiasco and Economic Fallout of Myanmar Crisis in 2021

Abstract

Myanmar caught in political turmoil at the outset of February 2021. Military seized control in a coup and overthrew elected government. Tension gripped the nation and uncertainty brought the lives of people on edge. Ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD) won general election with landslide victory held in November 2020. Eminent leader and NLD figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi re-established her popularity. It would have been democratic rule with elected leader in her second term. The election was significant to assess credibility of Aung San Suu Kyi who faced criticism worldwide for her inaction during Rohingya crisis. Opposition party supported by military brought allegation of voting fraud and urged about rerun of election. Opposition pointed out government irregulates in election process and denied its outcome. Since military took control in Myanmar in 2021, curfew had been imposed, phone and internet services got disrupted and television broadcasting of domestic and international channels remained suspended. Aung San Suu Kyi had been held in house arrest and other democratically elected leaders had been detained and protesting civilians were imprisoned immediately. Civil disobedience and peaceful protest by citizens faced brutal treatment. Army crackdown in Myanmar had been condemned and criticised across the globe as it portrayed onslaught on democracy and state of emergency decimated rights of native populace. In absence of political stability, economy would be badly hit which already suffered owing to outbreak of COVID 19 in 2020.