The Myanmar Times

[Alex]

 

[Alex]

Junta Falls
By Ye Myat Thu | Staff Correspondent, Naypyidaw Bureau

The nation's military dictatorship has officially collapsed following a wave of nationwide military defections, protests, and armed resistance. A new civilian-led National Reconciliation Council was formed early Tuesday morning and has declared the establishment of a democratic constitutional monarchy, with Me Minkhaung appointed as the nation’s ceremonial sovereign.

Me Minkhaung is a direct descendant of King Thibaw, and has been the head of the royal family since the assassination of her father by the government of Chairman Than Shwe in the 1991. She has been a known figure in the pro-democracy resistance since the late 1990s, gaining prominence for her leadership in armed resistance movements and her broad appeal among ethnic and student groups.

According to a statement released by the Council, the constitutional monarchy will hold little executive power. Its main purpose will be to serve as a safeguard mechanism against future military coup attempts, acting as a constitutional backstop and moral authority. The military will be subordinate to the new civilian structure, with command appointments subject to review by an independent oversight body.

The junta’s collapse followed months of escalating unrest and internal instability. Last week, former Chairman Than Shwe was critically injured in an assassination attempt carried out by a junior soldier during a routine inspection. In the days that followed, multiple battalions refused to obey orders, and key military installations in Naypyidaw, Yangon, and Mandalay were seized by allied resistance and defector forces without major conflict.

On Monday, General Aung Kyaw Min announced on state television the immediate dissolution of the State Administration Council, stating that “the military no longer holds the mandate to govern Myanmar.” The broadcast was followed by the withdrawal of most military units from government compounds in the capital.

At 6:45 AM local time, Me Minkhaung and other members of pro-democracy groups, ethnic organizations, and defected military units formally convened at the former Union Assembly building in Naypyidaw after heavy fighting from loyal military units in the upper hills of the nation and the outskirts of the capital. A press release confirmed the creation of the National Reconciliation Council, which will act as the country’s interim governing body for the next 12 months.

The Council’s key objectives include:

• Drafting a new democratic constitution.
• Holding national elections within one year.
• Establishing a constitutional framework for a monarchy.
• Dismantling military control over internal security ministries.
• Releasing political prisoners and enacting transitional justice processes.
• Formally begin proceedings to hold members of the dictatorship responsible for their crimes.

The announcement has received cautious approval from civil society groups, student organizations, and several ethnic political parties. Leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) confirmed participation in the constitutional process.

For now, the streets of major cities remain heavily patrolled by citizen security committees composed of resistance fighters and local volunteers. Despite isolated outbreaks of looting, the situation remains largely stable.