Mizzima.com/AFP-June 12
A top US government official said Saturday there was “no chance” the Myanmar junta’s planned elections next year would be free and fair. Myanmar has been in turmoil and its economy paralyzed since the February 2021 coup which ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy Party won a landslide victory in November 2020 elections but the military alleged voter fraud to justify the coup. US State Department counsellor Derek Chollet cast doubt over the junta’s pledge to hold new elections in August 2023. “I think there’s no chance it could be free and fair, and it can be an attempt to just manipulate the region, the international community,” Chollet told the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Almost 2,000 civilians have been killed in the junta’s crackdown on dissent and more than 14,000 people have been arrested. United Nations special envoy for Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer — who has not been allowed to visit the country since she took up the role late last year — fears an illegitimate poll could cause further unrest. She said unless Myanmar citizens had faith the election would lead the country back to “proper civilian rule” and the will of the people would be respected, it could be a “trigger point for greater violence”. Read more at: https://www.mizzima.com/article/no-chance-myanmar-polls-will-be-free-and-fair-says-us-official
