Polls open in second phase of Myanmar junta-run election: AFP

AFP

Myanmar’s junta opened polls in the second phase of elections on Sunday, AFP journalists saw, continuing a vote democracy watchdogs say is letting the military prolong its rule in a civilian guise.

The armed forces have ruled Myanmar for most of its post-independence history, before a decade-long democratic thaw saw civilians take the reins in a burst of reform.

But the military snatched back power in a 2021 coup, voiding the results of the previous election, detaining democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi and plunging Myanmar into civil war.

Polls opened at 6:00 am (2330 GMT Saturday) in Suu Kyi’s former constituency of Kawhmu, around 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Yangon city, AFP journalists saw.

After ruling by force for the past five years, the junta has pledged the three-phase election, due to end on January 25, will return power to the people.

But the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) — described by many analysts as the military’s prime proxy — won nearly 90 percent of lower house seats in the first phase late last month.