Irrawaddy-May 19
Political parties registered with the junta’s election body fear that the upcoming vote will be boycotted by a public still in open revolt against military rule. “We, the People’s Pioneer Party, implore all people to participate in the 2025 general so that it succeeds,” chairwoman Thet Thet Khaing told a press conference at Yangon’s Sedona hotel last week. The military regime has promised a national poll in December, despite losing control of most of the country outside the heartlands and major cities. The junta admitted its pre-election census was unable to count 19 million out of Myanmar’s population of 51 million. The regime has repeatedly promised a poll since seizing power in 2021, citing fraud in the previous year’s general election, despite local and international observers describing it as free and fair. After jailing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government, it dissolved the party along with around 40 other political outfits. The junta finally announced a date for the poll in March, stating it would be held in phases through December and January – but offered no details on constituencies or election laws. “Elections are best when the public votes because they should reflect the people’s will,” said Than Than Nu, chairwoman of the Democratic Party, which has also registered with the junta’s election body. “I have no concerns about opposition [to the poll]. However, voter turnout may decline depending on circumstances such as security conditions or earthquakes.”
Mandalay, Sagaing and Naypyitaw suffered widespread destruction in the 7.7-magnitude earthquake on March 28. The regime is facing flak for sluggish relief efforts, which have left earthquake victims homeless and cities still strewn with rubble more than a month after the quake. Mandalay and Naypyitaw are among the few places in the country where the regime still has near 100 percent control. According to the NLD’s Union Election Commission, more than 70 percent of the country’s 37 million-plus eligible voters cast ballots in the 2020 election. Some 90 political parties took part in the poll. Read more at:
