Myanmar’s military junta launched campaigning on October 28 for elections set to begin in December, a vote widely dismissed by critics and the populace as a sham designed to legitimize its rule amid an escalating civil war.
The elections follow the 2021 coup that ousted and imprisoned democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which overwhelmingly won 82% of seats in the 2020 elections, has been dissolved by the junta following unproven accusations of electoral fraud.
Anti-junta rebel groups have announced a widespread boycott of the vote in large areas they control. Human rights organizations and United Nations experts have condemned the restrictive conditions imposed by the military government.
Many Myanmar citizens express profound disinterest, prioritizing survival over politics. A 60-year-old resident in Sittwe, Rakhine State, stated the election “is meaningless to me. It’s not a real election, and I don’t see anyone supporting it.”
The resident added, “I see more and more beggars in the city because people are starving.” This sentiment reflects a population struggling with basic needs amidst ongoing conflict.
A civilian displaced to Mandalay echoed the apathy, saying they are “unlikely to vote” and are more concerned with returning home than political participation.
The military government has admitted that elections cannot be held in one in seven national parliamentary constituencies, largely in war-torn regions. Martial law remains in effect in one in five of the country’s towns.
The junta has imposed harsh penalties for those protesting the elections, including prison sentences of up to 10 years. It also uses cybersecurity laws to suppress communication deemed to “undermine unity.”
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), which backs the military, began its campaigning on October 28 by erecting signs in Naypyitaw and airing advertisements on state media.
However, the overall campaigning atmosphere is expected to be subdued, marked by heavy security due to the ongoing civil conflict.
Diplomatic sources confirmed that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not send observers. This decision follows calls from human rights groups to avoid legitimizing what they consider a deeply flawed electoral process.
Fifty-seven political parties are registered to contest the staggered elections, which are scheduled to begin December 28.