How the Myanmar Junta’s Election Laws Are Stifling Dissent Ahead of Polls

To lay the groundwork for the phased election it plans to stage in December and January, the Myanmar junta amended existing election laws and in July enacted additional legislation popularly known as the Election Protection Law.

Far from ensuring a free and fair election—the stated aim of these legal moves—the new laws in fact comprise a sweeping set of prohibitions against not only physical disruptions, but also any sort of criticism of or complaint about the election or election-related matters, with violators facing anywhere from a year in prison to the death penalty.

The regime set Dec. 28 as the date of the first phase of the poll, and has vowed to hold voting in 102 townships across the country.