YANGON (AP) - Myanmar resumed voting on Sunday in the second round of its first general election in five years, with additional polling taking place in areas affected by ongoing civil conflict. The election process is divided into three phases due to armed conflicts within the country. The initial round of voting occurred on December 28, encompassing 102 of the country's total 330 townships. The final phase is scheduled for January 25, but 65 townships will not participate due to safety concerns related to fighting.
Polling stations opened at 6 a.m. local time in 100 townships across various regions, including Sagaing, Magway, Mandalay, Bago, and Tanintharyi, as well as the states of Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayah, and Kayin. Many of these areas have seen significant conflict in recent months, highlighting the risks associated with the election. Myanmar operates under a two-house national legislature composed of 664 seats, with the party that secures a majority able to choose the new president and form the government. The military government retains 25% of seats in each legislative house, as mandated by the constitution.
Critics argue that the elections, organized by the military government following the February 2021 coup that ousted the elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi, lack fairness and true representation. The military's goal is seen as an attempt to legitimize its rule. During the initial phase of elections, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) dominated by winning nearly 90% of the contested seats in the Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of parliament, as well as the majority in regional legislatures.
As of the first phase of the election, the military government reported a voter turnout of over 6 million, translating to about 52% of the more than 11 million eligible voters. Meanwhile, Suu Kyi, who is currently 80 years old, and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are not participating in the elections due to her imprisonment on what are widely considered politically motivated charges. The NLD was dissolved in 2023 after not registering under new military-imposed rules.
Other political parties have also opted out of the elections, citing the unfair conditions imposed by the military regime. Various opposition groups have called for a voter boycott. Tom Andrews, a special rapporteur with the U.N. human rights office, criticized the elections, labeling them a "sham" and emphasized the oppressive environment that includes thousands of political prisoners, dissolved opposition parties, and stringent restrictions on media and free expression.
Reports indicate that the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has detailed over 22,000 individuals detained for political offenses and over 7,600 civilian deaths due to security forces since the military coup in 2021. The military takeover triggered widespread protests that devolved into armed conflict, plunging the nation into civil war.
The new Election Protection Law has introduced severe penalties for public criticism concerning the electoral process. In recent months, the authorities have charged more than 330 individuals under this law for actions such as leafleting and online activities related to the election. Although there were no significant reports of interference on polling day, opposition organizations and armed resistance groups had threatened to disrupt the electoral process. During the previous polling phase, violence had been reported in 11 out of the 102 townships where voting took place.
