Myanmar Election Begins Under Tight Controls as Junta Pushs Return to Rule

Myanmar began voting on Sunday in a tightly controlled national election. The poll is held by the ruling junta. It comes five years after the military seized power and removed the last elected government. Voting started in major cities and other junta-held areas. No voting is taking place in rebel regions.

The Myanmar election is under heavy scrutiny from global rights groups. Many parties from the 2020 vote have been dissolved. The military says the election will restore order. Critics say it will only cement military control.

Myanmar Election Held Under Restrictions and Conflict

The vote is taking place in a country torn by civil war. According to Reuters, fighting has displaced thousands in recent months. Many people remain in hiding due to air strikes and raids. These conditions limit public participation. Many citizens cannot reach polling stations.

The junta dissolved Aung San Suu Kyi’s party earlier this year. She is still in prison and serving a long sentence. Her supporters say the charges are not real. They say the junta wanted her removed from politics. Most parties from the last general election did not qualify this year.

The junta’s Union Solidarity and Development Party is expected to win the most seats. Critics believe the process favors the military. New electronic voting machines do not allow write-in votes. They also do not allow spoiled ballots. Observers say this limits voter choice.

Turnout appeared low in early hours. Some polling stations were quiet. Staff and journalists outnumbered voters in many places. In 2020, large crowds lined up before dawn. This time the mood was calm, but also tense.

Concerns Grow Over Legitimacy and Impact of the Poll

Many rights groups say the election cannot be free or fair. The U.N. rights office has stated that the vote is taking place amid repression. Arrests continue under laws that ban criticism of the election. More than 200 people face charges linked to election “disruption.”

Voting will take place in three phases. The first round began Sunday. The next rounds will follow in two weeks and again on January 25. The junta admits almost one in five constituencies will not vote at all. Fighting makes access impossible in many areas.

The election may deepen divisions in the country. Armed resistance groups have rejected the process. Some say the vote will not stop war. Others fear it will increase military pressure on rural communities. Many displaced families say they cannot take part even if they wish to.

Analysts say the poll aims to give the junta political cover. They say the military wants to claim public backing. But trust remains low across the country. Many people believe true change cannot come through this vote.

The Myanmar election will shape the next stage of the nation’s crisis. The outcome will affect millions still living with conflict. The world will watch how the junta uses the result in the months ahead.

Info at your fingertips-

Q1: What is the Myanmar election?

It is a national vote organized by the ruling junta. It aims to elect a new parliament. Many major parties are excluded.

Q2: Who is allowed to vote?

Civilians in junta-held areas can vote. People in rebel regions cannot. Many displaced people also cannot reach stations.

Q3: Why is this election controversial?

Rights groups say it is held under repression. Many parties are banned. Fighting limits free participation.

Q4: What happened to Aung San Suu Kyi?

She remains in prison. She is serving long sentences. Her party was dissolved earlier this year.

Q5: When will full results be known?

Voting spans three phases. The last phase is on January 25. Results may take weeks after all rounds are complete.