Myanmar begins first general election since 2021 coup amid civil war and boycotts
Guwahati: Military-controlled Myanmar began voting on Sunday in its first general election in five years, marking the first poll since the 2021 coup that ousted the previous civilian government.
The junta has described the election as an opportunity for political and economic renewal in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.
Ballots were cast at high schools, government buildings, and religious institutions in Yangon, the country’s largest city, the capital Naypyitaw, and other regions, according to AFP.
Voting is being conducted in three phases, with the first phase on Sunday covering 102 of the country’s 330 townships.
The second and third phases are scheduled for January 11 and 25, respectively, with final results expected in late January.
Over 4,800 candidates from 57 parties are competing for seats at national and regional levels, but only six parties are contesting nationwide for seats that could influence parliamentary decisions.
Former leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is not participating as she is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely considered politically motivated. Her party, the National League for Democracy, was dissolved in 2023 after refusing to register under the military’s new rules.
Other opposition parties also declined to participate, arguing the process is unfair, and some groups have urged voters to boycott the election.
Security was visibly tightened in Yangon on Saturday, with armed personnel outside polling stations and military vehicles on patrol.
Electronic voting machines, being used for the first time in Myanmar, were installed at polling sites. Despite threats from opposition and armed groups to disrupt the process, no major incidents were reported.
Analysts have questioned the legitimacy of the vote. Amael Vier from the Asian Network for Free Elections highlighted the lack of real choice, noting that 73% of voters supported parties in 2020 that no longer exist.
Critics, including the United Nations, Western governments, and human rights organizations, have condemned the election as neither free nor fair, arguing it primarily serves to legitimize continued military rule.
The exclusion of major opposition parties, restrictions on speech, and the repressive environment have led many to predict a military-backed victory for the Union Solidarity and Development Party, making the purported transition to civilian governance largely symbolic.
However, holding elections may allow neighboring countries such as China, India, and Thailand to maintain their support, citing the process as a step toward stability.
Western countries have continued to impose sanctions on Myanmar’s military leadership over its rejection of democratic norms and its violent campaign against opposition forces. Organising dissent has become extremely challenging under the junta’s strict controls.
Data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners shows that more than 22,000 individuals are currently imprisoned on political grounds, while security forces have killed over 7,600 civilians since the military takeover in 2021.
Armed opposition groups emerged after the army responded with deadly force to peaceful demonstrations against the coup. The conflict that followed has displaced more than 3.6 million people, according to the United Nations.
The introduction of a new Election Protection Law has imposed severe punishments and tight restrictions, effectively silencing public criticism of the electoral process.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said violence and intimidation have intensified in Myanmar, adding that the conditions necessary for free expression and peaceful protest do not exist.
Given these conditions, both supporters and critics of the military believe that power is likely to remain in the hands of Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who led the 2021 coup.