Four years after coup, Myanmar regime prepares for ‘violent, messy’ polls
YANGON, MYANMAR – Four years after seizing power in a military coup, the regime in Myanmar is gearing up for general elections, amidst widespread criticism and concern over the legitimacy and fairness of the process.
The junta, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has consistently refused to relinquish power since the February 1, 2021 coup, which ousted democratically-elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and thousands of others.
The upcoming polls, originally scheduled for November of this year, are being contested by various opposition parties and civil society groups, who accuse the military of manipulating the electoral framework to stack the odds against them.
"This is going to be a violent, messy election," said Khant Kyaw, a leading member of the anti-junta National League for Democracy (NLD) party. "The military is using every trick in the book to rig the outcome and silence dissent."
The NLD, which won the 2015 and 2020 elections in a landslide, was largely excluded from the electoral process, with its top leaders – including Suu Kyi – facing charges of corruption and other crimes. Many of its members have been detained, arrested, or forced into hiding.
The regime has also replaced the Independent Union Election Commission (IUEC) with a new body, packed with pro-military members. Opposition parties claim that the new commission is beholden to the junta and will hand the election to the military-backed National Unity Party (NUP).
"The IUEC has been undermined by the military, and we have no faith in their ability to conduct a free and fair election," said Phyu Phyu, a prominent member of the Progressive Party, which has withdrawn from the election.
The international community has also expressed concerns over the electoral process, with the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States, among others, calling for the release of detained political prisoners and a reversal of the coup.
"We urge accountability for the violence, human rights abuses, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms committed by the military," said a joint statement from the international community, issued earlier this month. "We also stress the need for a credible electoral process that reflects the will of the people."
Despite these concerns, the regime remains defiant, with Senior General Min Aung Hlaing insisting that the election will go ahead as scheduled and will be "free and fair."
"We will not listen to the shouting of the international community or any other party," he said during a recent speech. "We will hold the election to restore democracy in our country."
Much of the international community has imposed sanctions on the regime, while many individuals and companies have pulled out of the country or suspended operations in response to the coup.
As the election approaches, fears are growing of violence, as the military and its proxy groups have been accused of using brutal force to quell opposition protests and silence critics. Opposition parties are also preparing for a long and bloody struggle to reclaim power.
"It’s going to be a tough fight, but we will not back down," said Khant Kyaw. "The people of Myanmar will not be silenced by the military’s brutal tactics. We will rise again, and we will reclaim our nation."
The outcome of the election remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the road to democracy and stability in Myanmar is long and fraught, with many more battles yet to be fought.
