UN warns Myanmar’s planned elections will deepen repression and instability

Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, OHCHR, told reporters in Geneva that voting is expected to begin on 28 December, in what he described as a military-controlled ballot conducted in an environment “rife with threats and violence” and actively suppressed political participation.

Many major political parties have been excluded and more than 30,000 political opponents – including members of the democratically elected government and political representatives – have been detained since the 2021 coup.

“Far from being a process that could spearhead a political transition from crisis to stability and the restoration of democratic and civilian rule, this process seems nearly certain to further ingrain insecurity, fear and polarisation throughout the country,” Mr. Laurence said.

“The utmost priority must be to end the violence and ensure the flow of humanitarian aid.”