Myanmar's junta on Wednesday extended the state of emergency by six months, again delaying fresh polls it has promised to hold as it battles opposition to its coup. The junta had been unable to hold fresh polls as planned following an initial two year state of emergency "due to the terrorist acts" by its opponents, broadcaster MRTV reported. All the members of the junta-stacked National Defence and Security Council "unanimously decided to extend the period of the state of emergency for another six months," MRTV said. Under the military-drafted 2008 constitution, which the junta has said is still in force, authorities are required to hold fresh elections within six months of a state of emergency being lifted. The junta has said it will hold fresh elections in 2025.

Source: The Hindu July 31, 2024 21:07 UTC