Polls Open for Military-ruled Myanmar’s First Election in 5 Years

Critics argue that the election was designed to add a facade of legitimacy to the military rule that began after the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. His party won a landslide victory in the 2020 elections but was blocked from running for a second term.

Voters in the country’s largest city Yangon, the capital Naypyitaw and elsewhere were casting their ballots in high schools, government buildings and religious buildings.

Critics argue that the results will lack legitimacy due to the exclusion of major parties, restrictions on freedom of expression and an atmosphere of repression.

They argue that the expected victory of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party makes the so-called transition to civilian rule a dream.

But holding the election could provide an excuse for neighbors such as China, India and Thailand to continue their support by claiming that the election promotes stability. Western countries maintain sanctions against Myanmar’s ruling generals for their anti-democratic actions and brutal war against rivals.

Security in the country’s largest city, Yangon, was visibly tougher on Saturday, with armed guards stationed outside polling stations and military trucks patrolling the roads. Election officials installed the equipment and electronic voting machines, which were used for the first time in Myanmar.

Although opposition organizations and armed resistance groups promised to disrupt the election process, no significant action was taken.

Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s 80-year-old former leader, is not attending the meeting because she is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely viewed as politically motivated. His party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after he refused to register under new military rules.

Other parties have also refused to register or run under terms they consider unfair, and opposition groups have called for voter boycotts.

Asian Free Election Network analyst Amael Vier pointed out the lack of a real election, stating that 73 percent of voters in 2020 voted for parties that no longer exist.

It is difficult to mobilize opposition under pressure from the military. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 22,000 people are currently detained for political crimes and more than 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since they seized power in 2021.

The armed resistance emerged after the military used lethal force to suppress non-violent protests against his 2021 takeover of power. The ensuing civil war displaced more than 3.6 million people, according to the UN

The new Election Protection Act imposed harsh penalties and restrictions, effectively banning all public criticism of the polls.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that there was intense violence and intimidation in Myanmar and noted that there were no conditions for the exercise of freedom of expression or freedom of peaceful assembly.

Under these circumstances, both the military and the opposition believe that power will likely remain with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who led the seizure of power in 2021.

Voting will take place in three phases, with the first round on Sunday taking place in 102 of Myanmar’s 330 districts. The second phase will take place on January 11, and the third phase will take place on January 25. Final results are expected to be announced at the end of January.

More than 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are vying for seats in national and regional assemblies, while only six candidates nationwide are vying for the possibility of gaining political influence in Parliament.