Yangon: Myanmar's military junta has announced a six-month extension to the state of emergency, signaling a delay in the elections that were originally scheduled for August. The country has been facing widespread violence since the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi's government over two years ago, leading to a brutal crackdown on dissent and clashes with rebel groups opposed to military rule.

Acting president Myint Swe conveyed the decision during a meeting of the National Defence and Security Council (NDSC), which is stacked with junta members. The extension of the state of emergency will begin on August 1st, 2023. According to Myanmar's military-drafted constitution from 2008, fresh elections are required to be held within six months of lifting a state of emergency. Previously, the junta had promised to hold new elections by August of this year but has now delayed the polls.

Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing explained the reasons behind the extension, citing ongoing fighting and attacks in several regions and states across the country. He emphasized the need for systematic preparation, indicating that rushing into elections would not be prudent.

The junta had previously extended the emergency ordinance, acknowledging that the situation in the country had not returned to normalcy. The emergence of "People's Defence Forces," formed to resist the coup, has posed unexpected challenges to the junta and resulted in a protracted and bloody conflict.

Opponents and rights groups have accused the junta of carrying out atrocities, including burning villages, extrajudicial killings, and using air strikes and artillery bombardments against communities opposing their rule. The military's crackdown on dissent has resulted in the deaths of over 3,800 people, with more than 24,000 arrested, according to a local monitoring group. In contrast, the junta claims that more than 4,000 civilians have been killed by "terrorists" since seizing power.

Efforts by international organizations, including the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to mediate and end the conflict have stalled, as the military refuses to engage with its opponents.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who was deposed following the coup, has been convicted in a series of trials that were widely condemned as unfair, leading to a 33-year prison sentence. Recently, Thailand's foreign minister confirmed a meeting with Suu Kyi, marking her first known interaction with a foreign envoy since the 2021 coup.