Bangkok
AP
Military Charges Ahead of Myanmar’s Elections
Myanmar’s military regime has filed charges against over 200 individuals for breaching the country’s voting regulations as tensions rise ahead of a general election scheduled for the end of the month. This move is aimed at exerting pressure on those opposing the elections.
Concerns About Election Integrity
Opponents of the election, starting December 28, argue that it will lack fairness and is intended to provide a veneer of legitimacy to military control, which followed the 2021 coup that removed the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Complications from Ongoing Conflict
The coup ignited widespread resistance, escalating into a civil war that complicates the election process in many areas. Voting will be conducted in three separate phases, with the second on January 11 and the third on January 25.
Severe Legal Consequences
The election law established under military authority imposes strict penalties, including the death penalty, for those who oppose or disrupt the electoral process.
Official Statements on Charges
Home Affairs Minister Lt.-Gen. Tun Tun Naung confirmed that authorities have acted against 229 individuals—201 men and 28 women—in 140 cases for attempting to undermine the election, according to reports from the state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper.
Notable Activists Charged
Some well-known activists, such as Tayzar San, Nan Lin, and Htet Myat Aung, have been identified among those charged. They led a protest on December 3 in Mandalay, urging the public to reject the elections, abolish military conscription, and free political prisoners.
International and Domestic Response
The military government has dismissed international concerns regarding the legitimacy of the elections, stating that they are conducted for Myanmar and not for the world. The situation is further complicated by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party being barred from participating after being dissolved in 2023, following the military coup that questioned the 2020 election’s integrity.
