Myanmar’s military-controlled government has extended a state of emergency after the army seized power from an elected government two and a half years ago, state media said on Monday, further delaying elections it held when it took power. I promised.

MRTV television said the National Defense and Security Council met in the capital Naypyitaw on Monday and extended the state of emergency for another six months from Tuesday because “time is needed to prepare for elections”. The NDSC is nominally a constitutional government body, but in practice, it is controlled by the military.

The announcement was tantamount to an admission that the military did not exercise sufficient control to hold elections and had failed to suppress widespread opposition to military rule, which included large numbers of armed resistance to the military as well as nonviolent protests and civil disobedience. Is. an advantage in manpower and weapons.