UN expert urges world to reject Myanmar 'sham' election

GENEVA: The world must utterly reject the outcome of this weekend's final round of "sham" elections in Myanmar, the United Nations' special rapporteur on the country said on Friday (Jan 23).

He and other democracy advocates say that with deposed democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi sidelined and her massively popular party dissolved, the three-stage vote has been rigged by a crackdown on dissent and a ballot stacked with military allies.

"The junta has orchestrated the election specifically to ensure a landslide by its political proxy," said Tom Andrews, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

"It took no chances, banning credible opposition parties, jailing popular political figures, muzzling the press, crushing fundamental freedoms, and using fear and coercion to drive a reluctant electorate to the polls."