Myanmar has commenced voting in a highly contentious general election, the first since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021. The ruling junta presents this staggered poll as a step back towards democratic order, but critics globally dismiss it as a tightly controlled exercise to entrench military rule behind a civilian facade.
A Vote Held Amidst Conflict and Exclusion
Polling opened on December 28 in the first of three phases, with subsequent rounds scheduled for January 11 and January 25, 2025. This election unfolds against the backdrop of a brutal civil war that has displaced over 3.6 million people and left more than 11 million facing food insecurity, according to UN agencies.
The vote is restricted to areas under junta control. The military itself admits elections cannot be held in at least 56 of Myanmar's 330 townships, many held by rebel groups. Even in participating areas, security concerns have led to the cancellation of entire constituencies, leaving nearly one in five seats in the lower house uncontested.
A Skewed Political Field and Systemic Bias
The electoral landscape is heavily tilted in favour of the military. While 57 parties and over 4,800 candidates are officially competing, only six parties are allowed to run nationwide. The dominant force is the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).
The most glaring absence is that of Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD). The NLD, which won around 90% of parliamentary seats in 2020, was dissolved for refusing to re-register under junta rules. Suu Kyi remains in detention, serving a 27-year sentence on charges widely seen as politically motivated. According to the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), parties that won over 70% of votes last time are absent now.
Myanmar's political system, under the army-drafted 2008 constitution, inherently preserves military dominance. It reserves 25% of parliamentary seats for serving officers, granting an automatic veto over constitutional changes. New electronic voting machines further limit voter choice by disallowing write-in candidates.
Repression, Fear, and Divided Reactions
The pre-election period has been marked by severe repression. An Election Protection Law criminalises protest or criticism of the poll, with penalties up to ten years in prison or even death. Over 200 people have been charged, including artists and social media users. Platforms like Facebook remain blocked since the coup, stifling debate.
International reactions are split. China, Myanmar's key ally, backs the vote for stability. Russia and India have signalled cautious acceptance. Conversely, Western governments and the UN have condemned it. UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned the vote occurs in an environment of "violence and repression".
Within Myanmar, views are mixed. Some war-weary citizens see a flicker of hope for order, while resistance groups and many others reject the process entirely. For the junta, the election is a crucial bid for legitimacy and a pathway out of diplomatic isolation, but for much of the world, it represents a deepening of the country's crisis.
