On 1 February 2023, the two-year anniversary of the coup d’état, Myanmar’s military regime unexpectedly (and unconstitutionally) extended the state of emergency by a further six months, thereby postponing polls that had been due to take place by 31 July. For its part, the National Unity Government (NUG), the parallel authority created by elected lawmakers who were ousted by the coup, should make clear that resistance attacks on electoral targets are unacceptable. The West should coordinate with Asian allies in insisting that the polls are transparently unfair and dangerous none should provide electoral assistance. Governments in a position to influence Naypyitaw should press the regime to desist from using violence to impose elections. The polls will almost certainly intensify the post-coup conflict, as the regime seeks to force them through and resistance groups seek to disrupt them. Amid the state oppression following the 2021 coup, no election can be credible, especially when much of the population sees a vote as a cynical attempt to supplant the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in 2020. It has said it intends to hold the polls as soon it can, perhaps by November, although it has announced no date and delays are possible. The Myanmar regime is undertaking the necessary legal and procedural steps for national elections. Yet there are several ways to keep electoral violence to a minimum. Amid the widespread resistance to their regime, the polls are bound to intensify armed conflict. Two years after carrying out a coup, Myanmar’s generals are planning elections to entrench their role in politics.
Download Report (PDF | 785.61 KB | Press Release - Chinese version).Download Report (PDF | 509.38 KB | Press Release - Myanmar version).
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