Myanmar Holds Second Round of Controversial Elections Amid Ongoing Civil Conflict
Voting Resumes in Myanmar
On January 11, Myanmar commenced the second round of its first general election in five years, extending voting to more townships, including regions impacted by the ongoing civil war between the military junta and various armed groups.
Polling stations opened at 6 AM local time across 100 townships, covering areas in Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago, and Tanintharyi regions, as well as Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayah, and Kayin states.
Many of these locations have experienced recent clashes or are under strict security measures, highlighting the dangers associated with the electoral process.
The elections are being conducted in three phases due to the ongoing conflicts. The initial round occurred on December 28 in 102 of the 330 townships, with the second phase taking place on Sunday.
A concluding round is set for January 25, although 65 townships will be excluded due to ongoing violence.
In the morning, voters in Yangon, the largest city, and Mandalay, the second-largest, were seen casting their votes at various locations, including schools, government buildings, and places of worship.
Over 4,800 candidates from 57 different parties are vying for positions in both national and regional legislatures, but only six parties are competing on a national scale with a chance to gain significant influence in parliament.
Reports indicated no major disruptions during the voting process on Sunday morning, despite threats from opposition groups and armed factions to interfere with the elections.
During the first phase, incidents of violence were reported in 11 of the 102 townships where voting took place, according to the military government.
The initial phase saw the military-affiliated Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secure nearly 90% of the contested seats in the lower house of parliament, Pyithu Hluttaw, and a majority in regional assemblies.
The military government announced that over 6 million people, approximately 52% of the more than 11 million eligible voters, participated in the first phase, deeming the turnout a significant success.
Myanmar's national legislature consists of two houses with a total of 664 seats. The party that achieves a majority can appoint the new president, who will then form a Cabinet and establish a new government. The military is guaranteed 25% of the seats in each house as per the constitution.
Critics argue that the elections orchestrated by the military are neither free nor fair, viewing them as a strategy to legitimize military rule following the coup that ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021.
Suu Kyi, now 80, and her party are not participating in these elections. She is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges widely regarded as politically motivated.
Her party, the National League for Democracy, was disbanded in 2023 after it refused to comply with new military regulations.
Other political parties have also declined to register or participate under what they consider unfair conditions, while opposition groups have called for a boycott of the elections.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which tracks political arrests and casualties, over 22,000 individuals are currently imprisoned for political reasons, and more than 7,600 civilians have been killed by security forces since the coup.
The military's takeover sparked widespread protests that quickly escalated into armed resistance, plunging the nation into civil war.
A newly enacted Election Protection Law imposes severe penalties for public criticism of the elections, with authorities charging over 330 individuals under this law for activities such as distributing leaflets or engaging in online discussions about the polls.