The Strategic Initiative Forum (SIF) and the Anti-Sham Elections Campaign Committee (ASECC) have warned that if the elections frequently announced by Myanmar’s Military Council take place, both the people of Myanmar and the international community could be misled, potentially pushing the country toward collapse.
Link to the Original News Report HERE.
During a press conference on 27 February, Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Deputy Director of SIF and ASECC, emphasized that international media often focuses on the Military Council, and another election could mislead the global community.
She stated that to prevent such deception, the campaign is firmly opposing the election, highlighting that the 2008 Constitution, which granted legitimacy to the military, is no longer valid.
Myo Kyaw, General Secretary of the Arakan League for Democracy and a member of SIF and ASECC, also warned that the Military Council’s election would prolong the civil war, causing further loss of life and property. He stressed that the junta itself would not survive and that the country could face total collapse.
SIF and ASECC further cautioned that holding an election under the Military Council’s control could label revolutionary forces as rebels against peace, undermining public unity. Additionally, it could grant automatic legitimacy to military leaders indicted by international courts, allowing them to retain power while securing immunity for those responsible for crimes.
Despite ongoing conflict across 13 states and regions, the Military Council has announced plans to hold an election in 2025, though instability may lead to a regionally divided vote.
According to the Election Commission Chairman, only 161 out of the country’s 330 townships are expected to participate.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported on 19 February that the number of internally displaced people has reached a record 3.5 million in the four years since the coup. Meanwhile, on 17 January, the National Unity Government (NUG) stated that the Military Council effectively controls only 107 townships.
With millions displaced and ongoing armed resistance, revolutionary forces argue that any election held under the Military Council would be illegitimate.
On 24 December, 2024, the NUG and the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) jointly declared that the coup-led Military Council has no right to organize an election.