Myanmar Junta Announces Election Plans Amidst Ongoing Conflict and Opposition

Myanmar’s junta leader announced plans for elections in December 2025 or January 2026, claiming they will be free and fair. However, skepticism persists regarding their legitimacy following widespread suppression and unrest since the military coup in 2021.

General Min Aung Hlaing, the chief of Myanmar’s junta, announced plans to conduct an election in December 2025 or by January 2026, marking the first electoral event since the military coup in 2021. He stated the elections would be “free and fair” and mentioned that 53 political parties have submitted their listings to participate, as reported in the state-run newspaper, Global New Light of Myanmar.

During his visit to Belarus, Min Aung Hlaing extended an invitation to observation teams from Belarus to monitor the elections. The military regime seized power in 2021 following unsubstantiated allegations of massive electoral fraud during the 2020 elections, which were won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). The junta has faced ongoing resistance from various opposition groups amidst a brutal crackdown on dissent.

The military has encountered significant delays in organizing the elections due to heightened conflict, with ethnic rebel groups and pro-democracy forces actively opposing its authority. In a shift toward tighter control, the junta dissolved the NLD in 2022 for failing to comply with stringent electoral regulations, while extending the state of emergency into the second half of 2025.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers have urged the junta to focus on establishing a ceasefire rather than pursuing new elections, emphasizing the need for stability. Observers, including the United States, have criticized the junta’s election plans, labeling them as a potential sham that may provoke further violence. A statement from election experts denounced the junta’s intentions to conduct the elections, which they believe lack legitimacy amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

In summary, Myanmar’s junta lead by General Min Aung Hlaing has initiated plans for elections to be held in late 2025 or early 2026, claiming they would be fair. However, widespread skepticism exists regarding the authenticity of the electoral process, given the regime’s history of repression and ongoing conflicts. Criticism from international observers raises concerns about the potential repercussions of holding such elections amidst a significant humanitarian crisis.

Original Source: www.gjsentinel.com