February 1 marks two years since the military, led by Army Secretary Min Aung Hlaing, seized control of Myanmar.
Over the past year, the generals have stepped up efforts to wipe out opposition to their rule.
The country’s elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, will spend the rest of her life in prison after being convicted in a series of closed-door cases.
In a decision that shocked the world, the military also hanged four anti-coup activists. This is his first application of the death penalty in over 30 years.
It is also increasingly turning to air power in its crackdown on the anti-coup movement and deepening its ties with Russia, a major arms supplier.
Despite an ongoing crackdown, little progress has been made in diplomatic efforts to end the violence and restore civilian government.
Akira Radhakrishnan, Director of the Global Justice Center, said in a statement: “It is important today, as it was two years ago, to reflect on the myriad failures of the international community in responding to urgent crises.
“It is not too late for the international community to learn from its mistakes. can comply with the recent first-ever resolution on
Here is the timeline of events since the military took power in 2021.
February 1
The military detains Aung San Suu Kyi, who was reelected in a landslide in November 2020, and other members of the National League for Democracy.
A state of emergency is declared and Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing assumes command.
February 3rd
Massive civil disobedience has been declared and civil servants, including teachers and doctors, have quit their jobs.
Police have announced the first indictment against Aung San Suu Kyi for illegal use of walkie-talkies.
February 9
Police have been accused of using excessive and lethal force against protesters in the capital Naypyidaw. Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, 20, was shot in the head and died 10 days later. The military has banned gatherings in his 10 regional townships.
February 12th
Tens of thousands of people in Yangon and elsewhere in Myanmar took part in anti-coup protests, the largest crowds since the general’s seizure of power. The US imposes initial sanctions on coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and several other senior generals for their role in the coup. followed by the European Union and Canada.
February 26th
UN Ambassador Kyaw Mo Tun called for “the strongest possible action” against the military regime and ended his UN speech with the three-fingered salute adopted by the protesters.
A few days later, the coup leaders announced that he had been fired for “betraying” the country. The United Nations has continued to maintain Kyaw Moe Tun’s credentials despite pressure from the military government.
March 10
The UN Security Council unanimously calls for the reversal of Myanmar’s military coup and condemns military violence against peaceful protesters.
The next day, Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, told the UN Human Rights Council that the country was “ruled by a murderous and illegal regime.”
March 27
Troops kill at least 160 people as they hold a traditional parade to mark Armed Forces Day.
April 16th
Politicians displaced by the military have announced the formation of the National Unity Government (NUG).
April 24th
Min Aung Hlaing travels to Jakarta for summits with Southeast Asian leaders. Pentagon secretary signs his five-point plan to end violence and find solutions to political crisis.
May 24th
Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in court for the first time since her government was overthrown.
She faces a range of charges, including illegally importing walkie-talkies and violating COVID-19 rules during the 2020 election.
July 26th
The military has canceled the results of the 2020 election, claiming there were millions of fraud cases.
National and international observers who monitored the polls said there had been no major irregularities.
Aug. 1
Min Aung Hlaing was appointed Prime Minister at the military’s National Executive Council. He says the military will hold elections by 2023.
August 6
The United States has indicted two Myanmar citizens over plotting to injure or kill UN Ambassador Kyaw Mo Tun.
September 6th
The military released Ashin Wirathu, a nationalist Buddhist monk notorious for his anti-Muslim riots, after dropping charges of sedition brought by the deposed government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
September 7
NUG is calling for a nationwide rebellion against the General.
“The government of national unity, which was responsible for protecting the lives and property of the people… [has] NUG Acting President Duwa Lashi La said in a video statement posted on Facebook.
“As this is a public revolution, all citizens across Myanmar will revolt in every corner of the country against the rule of military terrorists led by Min Aung Hlaing.”
October 16th
In an unprecedented move, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has removed Min Aung Hlaing from its summit, citing the military’s failure to advance a five-point plan to end the crisis.
November 16th
Myanmar has charged Aung San Suu Kyi and 15 others with “election fraud and lawlessness” in the 2020 elections.
December 6th
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was convicted of “inciting” the military and violating COVID-19 protocols and was jailed for four years. His sentence was later reduced to two years.
December 24th
The United Nations has accused the military of killing dozens of civilians after it stormed a village in eastern Myanmar on Christmas Eve.
2022
January 7
The military has laid the red carpet for Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who will become the first and so far the only foreign leader to visit Myanmar since the coup.
July 25th
The military executed four anti-coup activists for the first time in more than 30 years in Myanmar.
Former NLD MP Phyo Zeya Thaw and prominent pro-democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu (better known as Ko Jimmy) described the state-run Myanmar newspaper Global New Light’s organization of “brutal and inhuman acts of terrorism”. was sentenced to death by hanging for his involvement in Said.
Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw were also executed.
Dozens more are on death row.
August 3
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Myanmar amid deepening ties between Russia and its military junta.
September 7
Min Aung Hlaing met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum hosted by Moscow in Vladivostok, Russia.
“Our relationship is developing positively,” the state-run RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying during the meeting.
September 16th
At least 11 children were killed and more than a dozen injured after the military bombed a school in the insecure area of Sagaing, which has faced sustained resistance.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah at the time said ASEAN had to decide whether the five-point consensus was “still relevant” or “needed to be replaced”.
November 17th
Australian economist Sean Turnell, Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, prominent business adviser and former British ambassador Vicky Bowman, and American Cho Tai Woo released on parole to mark Victory Day among the 5,774 prisoners detained.
Secretary of State Antony Brinken, using Myanmar’s former name, said the amnesty was “one bright spot in an otherwise incredibly dark time when things are going from bad to worse in Burma.” .
December 22nd
The UN Security Council adopted the first resolution on Myanmar since it was recognized by international bodies as Burma in 1948, calling for an end to the violence and the release of all political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi. .
Of the 15 members of the council, 12 voted yes. China and Russia, which have supported Myanmar’s military leader since the coup, have abstained, as has India.
December 30th
Aung San Suu Kyi’s trial ends after she is sentenced to seven years in prison for corruption. The 77-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner faces a total of 33 years in prison. The military has not released details about where she will be held.
2023
January 5th
The military releases more than 7,000 prisoners as part of an amnesty to mark the 75th anniversary of independence. Only a few are known to be political prisoners.
January 24th
More than a dozen survivors of military abuses in Myanmar file criminal charges in Germany, prompting prosecutors to investigate and bring to justice those responsible for atrocities during crackdown on coup opponents and Rohingya minority Seeking.
“This complaint provides new evidence proving that the Myanmar military systematically committed killings, rapes, torture, imprisonment, disappearances, persecution and other genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in violation of German law. We will provide it,” said Matthew Smith, CEO. He is also co-founder of Fortify Rights, an advocacy group that has filed lawsuits.
January 26th
The United Nations has found that opium cultivation has surged since the military coup.
January 27th
The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar has issued a new law restricting political parties.
Among the measures, political parties and individuals deemed to be associated with “terrorism” (the military refers to opponents of the People’s Defense Forces and the NUG as “terrorists”) will be barred from running.
February 1
It has been two years since the military seized power.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) estimates that about 3,000 anti-coup activists and civilians have been killed since the coup. That’s double what he was a year ago.
AAPP records show that 17,572 people have been arrested and 13,763 remain in detention.
The United Nations estimates that fighting has displaced about 1.5 million people from their homes.
