Polling stations have opened in parts of Myanmar for a general election that international observers and western governments have dismissed as a sham, designed to cement the military junta's control over the country.
A Vote Without Choice or Voice
The process, which the military frames as a return to democracy, is starkly different from previous votes. The country's most popular political party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), is banned from participating. Its leader, the former de facto head of government Aung San Suu Kyi, remains in detention following the 2021 coup. The vibrant rallies and sea of red party flags that characterised past campaigns are entirely absent.
Furthermore, vast regions of Myanmar will see no voting at all. Areas under the control of armed opposition groups or engulfed in intense conflict are excluded from the poll. This disenfranchises millions and underscores the nation's deep instability.
An Atmosphere of Fear and Repression
In locations where voting is proceeding, the atmosphere is one of fear and coercion. The junta has enacted a severe election protection law that criminalises any criticism or disruption of the vote, with penalties ranging from three years' imprisonment to the death penalty. There have already been arrests for actions as minor as posting anti-election stickers or sending private Facebook messages.
One anonymous resident in Yangon, the largest city, expressed a common sentiment, stating, "I fear the nation is falling deeper and deeper into darkness." She and her family are boycotting the vote to deny it credibility, but noted others may participate out of terror. "Some people are so afraid that if they don't show up, the military will come to their homes and arrest them," she said.
Violence has marred the election period. On the eve of voting, the military reportedly conducted airstrikes in Sagaing region. On election day itself, explosions were reported near polling stations in Pyay, and a drone attack targeted an office of the military's proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), in Myawaddy.
International Condemnation and Regional Support
The United Nations and Western nations have uniformly condemned the electoral process. UN human rights chief Volker Türk stated the elections were "clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression." Rights groups have urged governments worldwide to reject the vote's legitimacy.
In contrast, the military junta retains the support of key regional powers. China, Russia, India, and Vietnam have sent election observers, according to junta-controlled media. China, in particular, remains the military's most crucial ally.
The 2021 coup plunged Myanmar into economic chaos and a devastating humanitarian crisis. The UN now classifies it as "one of the world's most dire and yet underfunded" emergencies, warning that over 16 million people will need life-saving aid in 2026. As this controlled election unfolds, the people of Myanmar continue to endure conflict, repression, and a deeply uncertain future.
