Issues and Opposition: On 1 February 2021, Myanmar’s democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) was replaced by the military junta in a coup. As the military Commander-in-Chief, Min Aung Hlaing (often referred to as the abbreviated MAH by protesters) became the supreme power. Soon after, acting president Myint Swe declared a statewide emergency for the next year. The date of the coup was deliberately selected since it was a day before the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet was scheduled. Myanmar just had its election in November 2020. With Min Aung at the helm of affairs and the military (“Tatmadaw”) takeover of the government, the results of the November election were pronounced invalid and not permissible for the formation of the new government. NLD’s opposition wanted re-election but despite support from the military, this claim was rejected by Myanmar’s election commission. People of Myanmar who were looking forward to their democratically elected government were dismayed and violent and non-violent protests broke out against the military junta throughout Myanmar. This was not the first time the military junta had grabbed power. After restoring a civilian government in 1960, the military dictators threw over the elected government and snatched ruling power in 1962 under Ne Win. After almost three decades of oppressive military regime, Myanmar finally had its general election in 1990 in which Aung Saan Suu Kyi’s party NLD had a clean sweep. Despite NLD’s clear-cut victory, military rule continued with Suu Kyi held under house arrest. After the drafting of the Constitution, general elections were held in 2015. Although NLD won yet another big victory, Myanmar’s military reserved 25 percent of the seats for their appointees. The 2021 military coup, therefore, brought back bitter public memory and ensured large-scale protests across the country. Following the February 1 protests, the junta began arresting and killing the activists in and around Yangon. This resulted in more protests against the police and junta. This dilemma action was part of a larger movement to overthrow Myanmar’s military government.
Dilemma Action: On the day of the action, the protesters from the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Arakan Army (AA), and Ta’ang National Liberation Army urged the Yangon residents to clutter the streets of Myanmar with household garbage to raise a stink throughout the city as a protest against the police crackdown on protesters in and around the city. The three protesting groups also released a joint statement asking the junta and the police to stop torturing and killing the protesters and negotiate a peaceful resolution.
Outcome: There was no impact of this dilemma action on the junta although the action received the attention of the international and social media. In response, the police heightened their arrests and assaults on protesters.