Myanmar on Sunday began the first phase of its first general election in five years, organized by the military authorities amid a deepening nationwide civil conflict and widespread skepticism over its legitimacy.

The poll comes nearly four years after the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a February 2021 coup. Critics say the election is intended to provide a veneer of legitimacy to continued military rule, noting that Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) had won a decisive victory in the 2020 polls before being barred from forming a government.

Voting took place at schools, government offices and religious sites in Yangon, Naypyitaw and several other regions. Security was tight, with armed personnel stationed outside polling centers and military patrols monitoring main roads. Electronic voting machines were used for the first time, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Opposition groups and international observers have dismissed the process as lacking credibility, citing restrictions on free speech, arrests of dissidents and the disqualification of key political parties. Many parties boycotted the election, while others were dissolved for failing to meet new registration requirements imposed by the junta. Aung San Suu Kyi, now 80, remains imprisoned under sentences totaling 27 years.

Analysts note that most citizens who voted in 2020 supported parties that no longer exist, leaving voters with limited choice. Despite calls from resistance groups to disrupt the polls, there were no reports of major violence on Sunday.

Western nations continue to impose sanctions on Myanmar’s military leadership, while some neighboring countries are expected to view the election as a step toward maintaining diplomatic engagement.

Voting will take place in three stages  beginning Sunday across 102 townships, followed by additional rounds on January 11 and January 25. Official results are expected by the end of January.

BOB Post