Where is Myanmar located and what’s happening there?

MYANMAR is in a state of crisis after the military staged a coup – detaining leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

It is believed more than 400 people have been killed during riots in the south-east Asian nation since the coup began on February 1, 2021.

Where is Myanmar?

The country, formerly Burma, is located in the western portion of mainland south-east Asia.

It borders , , , Laos and .

is the largest country in mainland south-east Asia and has a population of about 54 million.

The biggest city is Yangon (Rangoon) but the capital is Nay Pyi Taw, and Burmese is the most commonly spoken language.

Buddhism is the main religion, but there are many ethnic groups, including Rohingya Muslims.

The country gained independence from Britain in 1948 and it was long considered a pariah state while under the rule of an oppressive military junta, or committee, from 1962 to 2011.

When did it change its name from Burma?

In 1989, the country’s official English name, which it had held since 1885, was changed from Burma to Myanmar after thousands were killed in an uprising.

The city of Rangoon also became Yangon and many names across the country changed too.

Burma and Myanmar mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably, but Myanmar is considered the more formal version.

The UK, as well as several other countries, initially refused the new name as a way of denying the military regime’s legitimacy.

But the use of Myanmar is now commonplace, despite the US still officially using Burma.

In 2016, the country’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi said it did not matter which name people used.

What is happening in Myanmar?

• February 1: , President Win Myint and other senior figures from their National League for Democracy are detained in an early morning raid. The military declares a state of emergency for a year and says it carried out the detentions in response to alleged election fraud.
• February 2: Min Aung Hlaing says it was inevitable that the military would have to take power after its protests against alleged election fraud.
• February 3: Myanmar police file charges against Aung San Suu Kyi and seek her detention until February 15. Government orders blockage of social media including Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp. Staff at 70 hospitals and medical departments across Myanmar stop work to protest against the coup.
• February 4: Protesters take to the streets to demonstrate against the coup. The United Nations Security Council calls for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and other figures. Another politician, Win Htein, is arrested.
• February 5: Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer calls for her to be released, saying he has not been able to meet her as she is being questioned. Teachers and some government workers join the Civil Disobedience movement.
• February 6: Thousands of people take to the streets to protest. In the meantime, a blockage of Twitter and Instagram is ordered as protesters had been sharing information on social media. Then, internet is completely shut down.

• February 7: Internet access is restored, but social media platforms remain blocked. Protests continue around the country.
• February 8: Police as tens of thousands of people join a third day of nationwide demonstrations against the military’s removal of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Pope Francis urges military leaders to free political prisoners and resume the country’s “brusquely interrupted” path to democracy.
• February 9: Protesters vow to continue non-violent action in the face of bans on big gatherings, night curfews and road closures after the biggest demonstrations in more than a decade.
• February 20: and more injured after riot police “fired live demonstrators with live rounds”. Officers fired to disperse opponents of the military coup in Mandalay.
• February 28: Riot cops fired bullets, tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades at protestors, killing at least 18 people on the Deaths were reported in cities including Yangon, Dawei and Mandalay.
• March 3: Police fire tear gas as protesters during a demonstration in Yangon as they took shelter behind a barricade.
• March 14: Myanmar forces have killed at least 22 anti-coup protesters in Yangon after Chinese-financed factories were set ablaze there.
• March 24: Hundreds of people imprisoned for demonstrating against last month’s coup in Myanmar were released 
• March 27: A further 90 protesters are shot and killed by security forces.

What has the international reaction been to the coup?

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned what he called “abhorrent violence” by Myanmar security forces.

He wrote on Twitter: We stand firmly with the courageous people of Burma & encourage all countries to speak with one voice in support of their will.”

Blinken added the United States “will continue to promote accountability for those responsible.”

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on its members to do more.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: “The Secretary-General urges the international community to come together and send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar as expressed through the election and stop the repression.”

On March 27 it was reported that 91 unarmed civilians were shot dead.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the “killing of unarmed civilians, including children” in Myanmar “marks a new low – adding “we will work with our international partners to end this senseless violence and hold those responsible to account”

Who is Aung San Suu Kyi?

Aung San Suu Kyi became known in the 1990s for campaigning to restore democracy as she organised rallies calling for democratic reform and free elections.

She founded the National League for Democracy.

In 1991, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize while under home arrest.

In 2015 – with a general election looming – announced she would run for the presidency of Myanmar.

However, clauses written into the country’s constitution prevented her from becoming president because she is a widow and mother of foreigners.

In November 2020, she was elected leader after her party won in an election which the army claims was marred by fraud.

She was detained on February 1 when .

The coup was staged as a new session of parliament was set to open.

Ms Suu Kyi and other senior members of the government have been detained and all authority has been given to the top army commander, Min Aung Hlaing.

Several charges have been filed against Ms Suu Kyi, including breaching import and export laws and possession of unlawful communication devices.

Who is in charge now?

Power has been handed over to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Following the coup, he said the military was on the side of the people and would form a “true and disciplined democracy”.

The military says it will hold a “free and fair” election once the state of emergency is over.