Myanmar holds first general election under military rule since 2021 coup

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Myanmar’s General Election Underway Despite Criticism

Polls have opened in about a third of Myanmar’s townships for its first general election since the 2021 coup, which ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government. The election is taking place in approximately 330 townships, with large areas inaccessible due to ongoing civil war between the military and opposition forces.

According to reports, two rounds of voting will be held on January 11 and January 25, while polling has been cancelled in 65 townships altogether. This means that around 20% of the country is disenfranchised at this stage.

In Yangon, the largest city, polling stations opened at 6am on Sunday, with a relatively regular flow of voters arriving throughout the day. However, the majority of voters are middle-aged, and few young people have been seen. The ballot options are limited, with most choices belonging to military parties.

The election has been criticized by various groups, including the United Nations, some Western countries, and human rights organizations, who argue that it is not free, fair, or credible due to the exclusion of anti-military political parties. Aung San Suu Kyi remains in detention, and her party has been dissolved.

The military, which has governed Myanmar since 2021, claims that the vote presents an opportunity for a new start, both politically and economically. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing cast his ballot on Sunday, stating that the elections are free and fair.

International observers from Russia, China, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nicaragua, and India have arrived in Myanmar ahead of the polls. However, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Myanmar has called for the international community to reject the military-run poll, citing concerns over human rights abuses and ongoing conflict.

The civil war, which began after the 2021 coup, has resulted in an estimated 90,000 deaths, 3.5 million displaced people, and 22 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Over 22,000 people are currently detained for political offenses.

Source: Al Jazeera