Summary

Myanmar has a complex history of government involving a number of military interventions and setbacks on the path to democracy. It is currently in a period of military intervention following a coup d’etat in February of 2021.

Politics

The political structure of Myanmar’s government under their original 1974 constitution was a 485 member popularly elected People’s Council with a 29-member council of state. The council of state consisted of one representative elected from each of the country’s 14 states and divisions, 14 members elected by the People’s Assembly, and the Prime Minister. 

In 1988, the military took control of the government and established the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) which controlled all aspects of State and National government. In 1990, more than 90 political parties were put forward for an election. The National League for Democracy (NLD) won four fifths of the seats in the new assembly; however, the SLORC announced that the election was for a constituent assembly. They then tasked the assembly with drafting a new constitution on behalf of the SLORC. The constitution would not be finalised and put to referendum until 2008 and was made effective from the 31st of January 2011. Elections for a new parliament had been held late in 2010.

Under the new constitution, there is a bicameral Assembly of the Union consisting of a 224 seat House of Nationalities and a 440 seat House of Representatives. Three quarters of each house are elected with the remainder appointed by the military. The Prime Minister leads an 11-member National Defence and Security Council cabinet. Elections are to be held every five years, although this has not been the case since the military coup in February of 2021.

When the military seized power, they detained the President and promoted the Vice President, a former military officer, to President. They then invoked articles 417 and 418 of the constitution which allowed the President to invoke a one-year state of emergency, suspend the legislative houses, and transfer power to the commander in chief of the armed forces. The military then formed the State Administrative Council to perform governing functions during the state of emergency. 

The military junta is reported to own a vast web of companies producing significant wealth for the military in industries such as tobacco and beer production, jade and ruby mining, manufacturing, banking, and transport. Democracy would threaten this wealth and likely regulate much of the wealth building asset base the military currently has.

For further information on Myanmar politics, see the resource below:

Article:

1. Myanmar – Politics, Ethnicity, Religion | Britannica
2. Myanmar country brief | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)

Myanmar and Australia

Australia has had a diplomatic relationship with Myanmar since 1952, with limited government to government and military to military programs. Australia has provided development assistance to the country in the past and supports Myanmar’s transition to democracy. Australia has called on the Myanmar military to end violence against civilians and engage in dialogue with other nations to allow for humanitarian crises to be resolved. 

For further information on Myanmar and Australia, see the resource below:

Article:

1. Myanmar | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au)

Myanmar and its Neighbours

The political instability within Myanmar impacts the nations around it. As a result, although few countries in the region have publicly condemned the actions of the junta, many have withdrawn support for, or suspended diplomatic relations with, Myanmar. India, although expressing support for democratic reforms in Myanmar, remains in support of the junta – possibly in an effort to combat growing Chinese influence in the region. Bangladesh relations with Myanmar have been strained due to Myanmar military operations being conducted in Rakhine, a State in Myanmar on the border of Bangladesh. These military operations have resulted in security concerns and an ongoing refugee crisis. Laos has maintained support for the Junta whereas Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore have publicly voiced their opposition of the situation in Myanmar.

For further information on Myanmar and its neighbours, see the resources below:

Articles:

1. Myanmar's neighbours, some ASEAN members hold secretive talks on crisis | Reuters
2. It’s Time for Myanmar’s Neighbors to Sideline the Military Junta – The Diplomat