Myanmar's Military Junta Holds Second Stage of Election Marred by Criticism of Sham Exercise
Voters in Myanmar have flocked to polling stations for the second stage of the military-run election, following a low turnout in the first round. Critics say the polls are a "sham exercise" that are neither free nor fair in the absence of a meaningful opposition.
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), backed by the junta, is leading by a landslide margin after winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats in the first phase on December 28. The party's victory has been widely criticized as an attempt to formalize junta rule.
The election comes amidst widespread conflict that has ravaged Myanmar since the military ousted a civilian government in 2021, detaining Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and sparking a civil war. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has been dissolved, along with dozens of other anti-junta parties, for failing to register for the polls.
Rebel groups have refused to take part in the election, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the process. The United Nations, western countries, and human rights groups have all condemned the election as a sham exercise that is neither free nor fair.
The junta has claimed that the election will bring stability and a better future for the country, which is facing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in Asia. At least 16,600 civilians have died in the conflict since the coup, according to the Armed Conflict Location + Event Data Project, and 3.6 million people have been displaced.
However, analysts warn that the junta's attempt to form a stable administration amid raging conflict is fraught with risk. The international community remains skeptical about the legitimacy of the government, and any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain broad recognition.
As the second stage of the election gets underway, critics are urging caution and calling for a more inclusive and transparent process.
Voters in Myanmar have flocked to polling stations for the second stage of the military-run election, following a low turnout in the first round. Critics say the polls are a "sham exercise" that are neither free nor fair in the absence of a meaningful opposition.
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), backed by the junta, is leading by a landslide margin after winning 90 of the 102 lower house seats in the first phase on December 28. The party's victory has been widely criticized as an attempt to formalize junta rule.
The election comes amidst widespread conflict that has ravaged Myanmar since the military ousted a civilian government in 2021, detaining Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and sparking a civil war. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party has been dissolved, along with dozens of other anti-junta parties, for failing to register for the polls.
Rebel groups have refused to take part in the election, citing concerns about the legitimacy of the process. The United Nations, western countries, and human rights groups have all condemned the election as a sham exercise that is neither free nor fair.
The junta has claimed that the election will bring stability and a better future for the country, which is facing one of the most serious humanitarian crises in Asia. At least 16,600 civilians have died in the conflict since the coup, according to the Armed Conflict Location + Event Data Project, and 3.6 million people have been displaced.
However, analysts warn that the junta's attempt to form a stable administration amid raging conflict is fraught with risk. The international community remains skeptical about the legitimacy of the government, and any military-controlled government is unlikely to gain broad recognition.
As the second stage of the election gets underway, critics are urging caution and calling for a more inclusive and transparent process.
. 16,600 civilians have lost their lives already and millions are displaced...it's heartbreaking.
. The international community isn't buying it and neither should we. The real question is what's going on behind the scenes, how much control does the USDP really have over the whole process?
. We were always told that this was a country capable of democratic transformation but I'm not convinced anymore. Maybe we need to accept that Myanmar is going down a dark path and focus on supporting those who are actually fighting for human rights and dignity 
. Like, how can you have a free and fair election when the opposition is basically out of the picture? 
And don't even get me started on the lack of transparency - it's like they're trying to hide something 
. The international community isn't buying into this sham exercise at all 
, and I think we should be watching this closely 
. It's gonna be a bumpy ride for Myanmar, imo 
. And get this - they even have built-in health monitoring features, so you can track your fitness goals and vitals all in one go 
! Has anyone tried them yet? What are your thoughts on these sleek new specs?
. It's like, what's the point of even having elections if it's all just gonna be a show? The fact that the UN and everyone else is calling this whole thing out as a sham exercise doesn't exactly fill me with confidence either 
. And have you seen the numbers on civilian deaths and displacement in that country? It's like, how can they expect to bring stability when there's so much bloodshed going on already?
And what's with all these rebel groups refusing to play ball? They know something fishy is going on.
. We've seen what happens when they're in power - civilians getting killed, people displaced... it's like they just care about keeping their own power, you know? 
.
. i wish someone could bring the international community together to help them find a peaceful solution 
, it's like they're crying out for help but nobody's listening 
. i don't think this election can be considered free or fair if there's no real opposition 
, and until that happens, i'm not sure how stable the country can really be 
. I mean, the military junta is controlling everything, and it's basically a one-party system? Like, where's the opposition? 
The numbers are also crazy - 90 out of 102 seats? That's just not possible without some serious rigging going on. And let's not forget about Aung San Suu Kyi and all the other politicians who were silenced or banned from running... it's like, totally unfair 
.
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... I mean, what's the point of even having elections if they're just gonna be rigged by the junta? And don't even get me started on the so-called "opposition" that's been shut down - it's like, no real choice for the people here. It's a total farce and we should all know better by now 
. What's next? Are they just gonna declare themselves winners or what? 
This whole thing reeks of desperation from the junta.
.