Foreign election observers arrive in Myanmar as sham polls begin

Mizzima

Election observation teams from seven countries have arrived in Myanmar to monitor the Military Commission’s phased general election, according to reports in state-run media.

Observers from China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Vietnam reached the country on 26 December, following the arrival of a delegation from Belarus on Christmas Day. These nations have maintained diplomatic and economic ties with the junta since the 2021 coup, even as Western governments and international rights organizations dismiss the upcoming vote as a move to legitimize military rule.

The presence of these foreign observers stands in contrast to the position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which has stated it will not send an official observation mission.

While the junta invited the regional bloc to participate, ASEAN foreign ministers have reaffirmed that a cessation of violence and inclusive political dialogue must precede any credible election.

Independent monitoring bodies, such as the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), have also declined to participate, citing an environment that fails to meet minimum democratic standards for transparency and safety.

The first phase of the election is scheduled to begin on 28 December in 102 townships, including the capital, Naypyidaw. However, the military’s own data illustrates the extent of its limited territorial control. Out of Myanmar’s 330 townships, voting has been canceled in 65.

Furthermore, authorities have announced that 2,931 wards and village tracts within the “designated” voting zones will be excluded from the first and second phases due to ongoing conflict and security risks.