Polls opened in Myanmar on Sunday for the first general election since the military coup in February 2021 that ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The heavily restricted election is taking place in approximately one-third of the country's 330 townships, with voting cancelled in 65 townships due to ongoing civil conflict.
The initial phase of voting on December 28 will be followed by two additional rounds on January 11 and January 25. Myanmar's military chief, Min Aung Hlaing, was seen casting his vote at a polling station in Naypyidaw, according to Agence France-Presse.
The election is occurring against a backdrop of intense fighting between the military and various opposition forces. Large areas of the country are currently inaccessible due to the ongoing civil war. Critics have widely condemned the election as a sham designed to legitimize the military's rule.
The military seized power alleging widespread fraud in the 2020 general election, which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide. International observers largely validated the results of the 2020 election. Following the coup, Aung San Suu Kyi and numerous other government officials were arrested.
The military government has stated that the election is a necessary step towards restoring stability and returning the country to civilian rule. However, many opposition groups have called for a boycott of the election and vowed to continue their resistance against the military regime. The NLD was banned earlier this year, preventing them from participating in the current election.
The United Nations and several Western governments have expressed deep concerns about the legitimacy of the election, citing the lack of inclusivity and the suppression of political freedoms. They have called on the military government to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders and to restore democracy in Myanmar. The outcome of the election and its impact on the ongoing conflict remain to be seen.
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