As of February 27, Myanmar has added 37 more townships to the list of those directly submissive to marital law.  There are now a total of 50 townships that are ruled by martial law to punish dissenters.  The Human Rights Watch reported, “Under martial law, legal proceedings held in military tribunals against alleged coup opponents – closed-door hearings without adequate opportunity to present a defense – deny defendants any semblance of a fair trial”.  Having broad swathes of the country under direct military control allows for the junta to unfairly try and charge people that are resisting against the junta, even in peaceful ways.  It is clear that Myanmar is not on the path to democracy and have no plans in the immediate future to give control back to a civilian government.  Because of the martial law allowing for citizens to be tried by the military at the start of the coup in February 2021, “military tribunals have sentenced more than 100 people to death, including 41 tried in absentia.”  This is especially concerning because those that were tried in absentia were unable to defend themselves against their accusers.  The world is not seeming to be too concerned about the issue right now, as US held joint drills with Myanmar and other Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).  They were not excluded from these drills which signals that these other states are not too concerned with what is happening in Myanmar.

Justice Rozic

Myanmar Junta Extends Martial Law | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)

US holds training exercises with sanctioned Myanmar junta | The World from PRX