However, on Thursday the electoral commission said there was no evidence to support these claims, saying the polls were free, fair and credible and that “[reflected] the need of the people.”
While the commission also denied allegations of voter fraud, it admitted “errors” in voter rolls from previous elections and said it was currently investigating a complete of 287 complaints.
Calls for the military to confirm voter rolls have intensified this week, and on Tuesday a military spokesman refused to rule out the opportunity of the military taking power to cope with what he called a political crisis.
Newly elected lawmakers are expected to start sitting in parliament on February 1, and on Friday security was tight within the capital Naypyidaw, with police guarding roads with fences and barbed wire.
Concerns intensified after army chief Gen. Min Aung Hlaing – arguably essentially the most powerful person in Myanmar – appeared to echo that view on Wednesday when he said the country’s structure may very well be “abrogated” under certain circumstances.
“The Constitution is the mother law of all laws. Therefore, we should all respect the constitution. If someone does not follow the law, it should be repealed. If this is the constitution, it is necessary to repeal the constitution,” he told senior officials in a speech.
The coup rhetoric just isn’t only a bluff or an empty threat
Khin Zaw Win, a political analyst in Yangon and a former political prisoner, suggested the military was signaling its intention to intervene within the country’s politics.
“The military’s direction is now much clearer. Although it sounds illogical, army chief Min Aung Hlaing’s argument is intended to soften the blow of the abrogation of the 2008 constitution,” he said.
“By doing so, he aims to get rid of the election results and the upcoming NLD government. At the same time, he wants to gain public support for the abolition of the unpopular constitution,” he added.
China wants to charm Asia ahead of Biden’s presidency
China wants to charm Asia ahead of Biden’s presidency
Political analyst Soe Myint Aung said the army saw “serious legal loopholes.” [in the constitution] what caused his injury.”
“The coup rhetoric is not just a bluff or an empty threat,” he said. Even if he doesn’t stage a “full” takeover of power, “it is probably going that the military will take some motion unless [election commission] and the federal government to redress election-related grievances.”
The U.S. embassy — together with 16 countries including former colonial power Britain and an EU delegation — issued an announcement Friday calling on the military to uphold “democratic norms.”
“We look forward to the peaceful convening of parliament on February 1 and the election of the president and speakers,” they wrote. “[We] oppose any try and change the election results or obstruct Burma’s democratic transition.”
Covid to conflict: Is Suu Kyi really a protected bet in Myanmar’s elections?
Covid to conflict: Is Suu Kyi really a protected bet in Myanmar’s elections?
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed “great concern” about recent events in Myanmar, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
“Calls on all actors to desist from all forms of incitement or provocation, to show leadership and to uphold democratic norms and respect the (election) result,” Dujarric said in an announcement.
Suu Kyi did in a roundabout way comment on the military’s complaints concerning the polls.
November’s polls were only the second democratic elections Myanmar has seen since emerging from a 49-year military dictatorship. Since then, the civilian administration has been in an uneasy power-sharing arrangement with the military generals.
Additional reporting by the Associated Press
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: Coup fears grow as military survey results Army chief’s rhetoric fuels coup fears
