Naypyitaw: While Myanmar's military regime is actively engaging in peace talks and gearing up for elections anticipated at the end of this year, widespread skepticism persists among the populace. Many citizens are doubtful about the prospects of genuine peace or a free and fair election under the junta's rule.
According to Global Voices, the junta recently concluded its Peace Forum in Naypyitaw on June 27. This three-day event included participants such as political parties registered for the junta's election, selected ethnic representatives, invited diplomats and international guests from countries including China, India, Thailand, and Russia, as well as army officers and representatives from local and international NGOs. Despite these peace efforts, the regime concurrently conducted military offensives and airstrikes across the country, targeting areas like the Taang National Liberation Army's controlled zones, including Mogoke, Kyaukme, and Nawnghkio in northern Shan State.
While hosting the peace forum, the junta also expedited preparations for the upcoming election, scheduled for December 2025 or January 2026. These preparations included amending the Union Election Commission Law to permit government staff to chair all election bodies. A former teacher from the Sagaing Region, who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement after the 2021 coup, expressed that the people do not accept the junta's election. He foresees it being fraudulent and restricted to cities under the regime's control.
The National Unity Government (NUG), a civilian body, reports that the military regime currently controls only 107 out of Myanmar's 330 townships, equating to just 32 percent. Despite this, the junta's election body claims that voting will be conducted in 267 townships, contingent on security conditions.
Concerns about the legitimacy of the election persist. A teacher from the CDM anticipates that the junta's proxy party would win, forming a purportedly legitimate government to extend its rule. Of the 77 parties registered with the junta's election body, 54 have been approved to contest the poll. The military's proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party and eight others will participate nationwide, while 45 others will contest local elections. Meanwhile, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myanmar's most popular party, was dissolved by the junta, with its leaders, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, imprisoned. This election has been widely condemned as a sham by UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, Western governments, the NUG, and pro-democracy parties. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) advised the junta against prioritizing elections amidst the ongoing civil conflict.
A young man who fled to Thailand to avoid mandatory military conscription expressed his distrust in the electoral process, fearing that his vote could be manipulated if he boycotts the election. He mentioned a plan to mark his ballot with an X in protest if given a voting opportunity in Thailand. Similarly, a factory worker from Yangon stated her intention not to vote, citing the lack of trust in the junta, which has been responsible for the 2021 coup and subsequent crackdown on civilians.
According to a June 27 report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Myanmar, about 3.5 million people remain internally displaced due to ongoing armed conflicts. Furthermore, as of July 4, at least 6,863 individuals opposing the junta have been killed, and 29,367 detained since the 2021 coup, based on data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
In addition to preparing for the elections, the military regime is crafting a special law aimed at safeguarding the election against potential disruptions. A former civilian election observer noted that the law's objective is to suppress dissenting voices and those opposing the junta's election. Despite these efforts, resistance to the vote continues in regions like Sagaing, Magwe, and Tanintharyi, where many dismiss the election as a sham.