Myanmar crisis: Can a bloody outcome be averted?

BANGKOK - Martial law was imposed in several parts of Myanmar, including Yangon, on Monday night (Feb 8) after widespread protests against the military seizure of power on Feb 1. Myanmar's military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, also made his first public address, trying to project himself as more a statesman and less a dictator.

His main objective - apart from reiterating allegations of massive fraud in the Nov 8 election that were used to legitimise his putsch - was to assure Myanmar's foreign investors and partners that his regime would carry on with policies laid out by the National League for Democracy government he had ousted and honour previous signed agreements.