Myanmar is preparing for an election on Sunday, the first since the military coup nearly five years ago, amid widespread concerns about its legitimacy and fairness. The election, orchestrated by the ruling military junta, has been labeled a "sham" by critics and is taking place under a climate of fear and intimidation.

In Mandalay, retired Lieutenant-General Tayza Kyaw, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) candidate backed by the military, recently held a campaign rally in Aungmyaythazan constituency. Addressing a crowd of 300-400 people, Kyaw promised better times if elected. According to the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head, many attendees appeared unenthusiastic, with some dozing off in the heat and others, identified as earthquake victims, leaving immediately after the rally.

The USDP is the political party associated with the military. The upcoming vote is viewed by many as an attempt by the junta to legitimize its rule after seizing power in 2021.

The election's credibility has been undermined by the exclusion of key opposition figures, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the dissolution of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The military has justified its actions by alleging widespread fraud in the 2020 election, which the NLD won by a landslide, though international observers have disputed these claims.

Concerns have also been raised about the lack of independent monitoring and the restrictions on media access. These factors contribute to an environment where free and fair elections are impossible, according to many international observers.

The election is scheduled for December 28. The outcome and its impact on Myanmar's political future remain uncertain, but the process has already deepened the country's political divisions and raised questions about the prospects for a return to democracy.