Myanmar junta holds second phase of election widely decried as a ‘sham exercise’ | Myanmar
Voters in war-torn Myanmar lined up on Sunday to vote in the second phase of military elections, following a low turnout in the first round that was widely criticized as a means of formalizing junta rule.
Myanmar has been wracked by conflict since the military overthrew a civilian government in a 2021 coup and detained its leader, Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi; This sparked a civil war that engulfed much of the impoverished country of 51 million people.
Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, which swept the last elections in 2020, was dissolved along with dozens of other anti-junta parties for failing to register in the last elections, while rebel groups refused to participate.
The United Nations, many Western countries and human rights groups say the elections are a sham exercise that is neither free, fair nor credible unless there is meaningful opposition.
The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party is leading by a large margin after winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats contested in the first phase on December 28. This party saw only 52.13% voter turnout, much lower than the 2020 and 2015 elections.
“The USDP is on course for a landslide victory, which is no surprise given that the playing field has tilted in its favour. This has included the elimination of serious challengers and a range of laws designed to suppress opposition to the election,” said Richard Horsey, Crisis Group’s senior Myanmar advisor.
The last tour will be held on January 25. In total, voting will be held in 265 of Myanmar’s 330 districts, including areas where the junta does not have full control.
The junta said the elections would bring political stability and a better future to the country, which is facing one of Asia’s most serious humanitarian crises. At least 16,600 civilians have died in conflict since the coup, and the UN estimates 3.6 million people have been displaced, according to the Armed Conflict Location + Event Data Project.
But analysts warn that the junta’s attempt to establish stable rule amid violent conflict is fraught with risks and that any government under military control is unlikely to be widely recognized internationally.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing last month did not answer a reporter’s question about his political ambitions.
During a visit to the central Myanmar township last week, he hailed the election as a success and called on officials to work to further increase turnout.
“A large number of votes were cast in the first phase of the election, which showed that the people have a strong desire to participate in the democratic process,” state media quoted him as saying. he said.
Therefore, it can be said that the election was successful.”
