Post by : Rameen Ariff

Geneva: The United Nations has strongly warned that upcoming elections in Myanmar, scheduled for December 28, cannot be considered free or fair under the current military rule. The UN highlighted serious risks to voters and cautioned that the junta could use mass electronic surveillance to monitor polling stations.

Myanmar’s military seized power in a 2021 coup, triggering a civil conflict, but is now presenting the elections as a chance for national reconciliation. The ruling junta claims that the polls are the path to peace. However, international observers and rights groups have dismissed this as a facade to continue military dominance. Rebel-controlled areas will be blocked from voting, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of the election.

“This military-controlled ballot will be conducted in an atmosphere filled with threats and violence, putting civilians’ lives at risk,” said UN rights office spokesman Jeremy Laurence in Geneva. He added that growing insecurity and the lack of protection measures for voters are major concerns for anyone choosing, or being forced, to participate.

Many political parties and minority communities, including Rohingya, Tamils, Gurkhas, and Chinese residents, have been excluded from participating. Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned, and her National League for Democracy party has been dissolved.

Also Read :- Ukraine Sends Negotiation Team to US for War Talks With Russia

James Rodehaver, head of the UN rights office’s Myanmar team, noted that the military has deployed extensive electronic surveillance across the country, including biometric tracking. “There is a real risk that this technology will be used to monitor voters at the polling stations,” he said.

The Myanmar election commission has announced that the vote will be conducted entirely through electronic voting machines. In some conflict zones, villagers have been forced to attend military training sessions to use the electronic voting machines. Following the training, some participants were threatened by armed groups, warning them not to vote. These measures create fear among civilians, caught between the military and opposition forces.

The UN’s statement underscores that the elections are taking place in an environment where voter participation is actively suppressed, and citizens may face persecution for exercising their right to vote. Analysts have warned that these elections are unlikely to meet international standards for democracy and transparency, raising concerns about Myanmar’s political future.

#Global News