National League for Democracy

Myanmar's election last year reflected the will of the people and the army was unjustified in using alleged flaws as a reason to seize power, an international monitoring group said on May 17 in its final report.

The Feb. 1 coup cut short a decade of tentative democratic reforms and led to the arrest of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose party had swept the Nov. 8 election.

For the 10th day, protesters demanded the reinstatement of a civilian government under deposed state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and democratic reform.

People in Myanmar went on the streets again to protest against the military coup despite a heavy military presence and internet blackout.

Myanmar military television said on Feb. 1 that the military was taking control of the country for one year, while reports said many of the country's senior politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained.

Myanmar's lawmakers on March 15 elected a close aide and longtime friend of Aung San Suu Kyi to become the country's first civilian president in decades, a historic moment for the formerly junta-run nation.

The party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi officially confirmed March 10 that she will not become Myanmar's next president.

Myanmar's parliament will begin its election of the new president on March 17, cutting very close to an April 1 deadline, suggesting talks between Aung San Suu Kyi's victorious party and the military are likely to take longer than planned. 

Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition party said Nov. 9 it was set to claim over 70 percent of seats following Myanmar's election, a tally that could sweep it to power after decades of military dominance.

Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi called on her party June 21 to push for a landslide victory at crucial elections expected later this year as she celebrated her birthday with supporters.