By Reuters and published by Yahoo!News
Tokyo – Japan is “seriously concerned” that Myanmar’s planned elections without release of those detained could provoke “further strong backlash from the people” and “make a peaceful resolution more difficult”, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday (Aug. 1).
Japan once again strongly urges the Myanmar military to stop the violence immediately, release those detained including former leader Aung San Suu Kyi and restore a democratic political system, Iwaya said in a statement.
Iwaya’s comment came a day after the Myanmar military lifted a nationwide state of emergency and nominally transferred power to a civilian-led government ahead of voting in the elections that are planned to be held in December and January.
The move signals no change to the status quo in Myanmar, with coup leader Min Aung Hlaing holding on to all major levers of power as acting president while retaining his position as chief of the armed forces.
A nationwide state of emergency in place since the coup, which was due to expire on Thursday after seven extensions, has now been lifted, said Zaw Min Tun, a government spokesperson.
“The interim president and commander in chief said this upcoming six months are the time to prepare and host the election,” he told state media.
Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected civilian government plunged the Southeast Asian nation into civil war, with the military fighting to contain a rebellion and accused of widespread atrocities, which it denies.
The election has been dismissed by Western governments as a sham to entrench the generals’ power and is expected to be dominated by proxies of the military, with opposition groups either barred from running or refusing to take part.David Mathieson, an independent Myanmar-focused analyst, said the change in power was cosmetic and those in charge would continue to be abusive and repressive.
“They are just rearranging the same pieces and calling the regime a new name,” he said. “This is part of preparations for an election which we don’t know much about.”
CAPTIONS:
Top: Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya attends the 26th Asean Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. File photo: Reuters/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool and published by US News & World Report
Insert: Myanmar’s military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attends a press conference following talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, on March 4, 2025. Photo: Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via Reuters and published by CNA
Also read: Pro-monarchy groups clash with Myanmar protesters
Strong quake leads to building being built in Chatuchak collapsing
Thai air force denies reports of suspended sale of Swedish-made Gripen jets
One Thai border area left unoccupied due to landmines
Nearly 200 Thai migrant workers want to return to Khmer dens
Thai army tells envoys Chong-arnma area is part of Thai territory
