A shadow fell over Burma (Myanmar) on December 28th, as the ruling junta held its first election since seizing power in 2021. But this was no step towards democracy; it was a carefully orchestrated maneuver designed to solidify control, a performance unfolding under the barrel of a gun.
The vote was a hollow echo of past elections, particularly those in 2015 and 2020, which briefly ignited hope for a truly democratic future. This time, opposition parties were banned, pro-democracy voices silenced, and vast swathes of the population deliberately excluded from participating.
Participation was shockingly low, with barely a third of eligible voters casting ballots. The election was confined to areas under strict military control, effectively disenfranchising the 70 percent of the country ravaged by conflict and displacement. As voting commenced, the junta quietly added nine more townships to the list of areas where elections simply wouldn’t happen.
The scale of exclusion is unprecedented in Burmese history. A staggering 134 townships – entire regions – were either fully or partially barred from voting. In places like Karenni State, where residents have been forced to flee relentless attacks, the idea of a free and fair election was a cruel joke.
The junta’s Union Solidarity and Development Party, deeply entwined with the military, is poised to claim victory. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is widely expected to emerge as president, cementing a future where military rule continues, cloaked in the guise of electoral legitimacy.
But the resistance is fierce. Major political parties have been dissolved, opposition leaders imprisoned or forced into exile, and over 3.6 million people have been displaced by the ongoing civil war. Tens of thousands have perished, and the nation’s economy lies in ruins.
The international community has condemned the election as a sham. A U.N. human rights rapporteur described it as “theater of the absurd performed at gunpoint,” a chilling assessment underscored by continued airstrikes and mass arrests.
Leading up to the vote, the junta enacted draconian laws criminalizing any opposition to the process. Over 200 people now face the threat of imprisonment – even the death penalty – for daring to criticize the election, including individuals punished for simply “liking” dissenting posts online.
The atmosphere was one of fear and repression. In Yangon, youths received decades-long sentences for hanging anti-election posters. A film director, an actor, and a comedian were jailed for criticizing pro-election propaganda. Violence escalated, with bombings and deadly attacks targeting civilians and election staff.
A harrowing incident documented by Amnesty International involved a manned paraglider bombing at a festival, killing civilians, including children. The military also bombed a hospital in Rakhine State, claiming over 30 lives. Myanmar now ranks third globally for drone strikes and casualties, surpassed only by Ukraine and Russia.
Armed resistance groups and major pro-democracy organizations, including the National Unity Government, have unequivocally rejected the election. They view it as a desperate attempt by the junta to legitimize its power grab and have vowed to consider anyone cooperating with the process an enemy of the people.
Ethnic armed organizations, like the Karen National Union and the Karenni National Defense Force, have issued stark warnings, declaring the election a “sham” and a “vote to serve the military.” They are prepared to take action against anyone supporting the junta’s efforts to entrench its rule.
Amnesty International is urging the international community to reject the election’s legitimacy and hold the junta accountable for its widespread abuses. They are calling for a suspension of jet fuel shipments – the lifeblood of the military’s devastating airstrikes – and for the International Criminal Court to pursue arrest warrants for junta leaders.
The 2020 election, when the people of Burma dared to choose a democratic path, now feels like a distant dream. This latest vote offers no such hope, pushing the nation further away from the freedom and federal democracy it has yearned for over decades of struggle.
