Myanmar Junta Extends ⁤Ceasefire Amid Election Plans

Updated June ⁤01,2025
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Myanmar’s military junta announced an extension to it’s post-earthquake ceasefire,now set to last until June 30. The initial truce, which⁣ expired Friday, has been routinely violated⁢ by the military through airstrikes against rebel‍ groups. Junta officials stated the extension aims to facilitate rehabilitation and reconstruction in areas devastated by⁤ the ⁢recent earthquake.

The original ceasefire followed a March⁢ 28 earthquake that resulted in nearly 3,800 deaths and left tens of thousands homeless. Observers, though, report ongoing clashes despite the declared truce, noting an increase ⁣in airstrikes using Russian-supplied fighter jets to combat rebel forces.

According to the military authorities, the ceasefire extension also intends to enable the holding of a “free⁤ and fair democratic multiparty general election.” The junta aims to conduct elections by January, marking the first polls⁤ as the 2021 coup. the junta warned it would‍ retaliate against any ⁤offensives from opposing forces.

Mohamad Hasan, Malaysia’s foreign minister, proposed extending the ⁣ceasefire beyond current zones during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur⁣ on May 25.

Myanmar’s military seized power in‍ February 2021, alleging widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National league for Democracy won ⁢decisively. ⁣The junta ⁤subsequently launched a violent crackdown on dissent and repeatedly postponed⁣ elections, deemed impractical to conduct fairly by its opponents, as conflict engulfed ⁣much of ⁤the contry.

What’s next

The international community continues to monitor the situation in Myanmar, with‍ ASEAN playing a key role in diplomatic efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. The focus remains on ensuring humanitarian access and creating conditions conducive to free and fair elections.