Sham Election Under Fire

Amid its escalating attacks on civilians, the Myanmar military junta has continued its relentless efforts to whitewash its atrocities through the promise of an “election”—which is nothing but a façade. International support for the junta’s sham election, whether direct or indirect, poses an imminent threat to Myanmar people’s fight for freedom and democracy by entrenching military tyranny and reinforcing the very structure of violence. The international community must unequivocally denounce the junta’s sham election and support the Myanmar people’s efforts to build federal democracy from the ground up. 

In recent weeks, the junta has pushed forward its plan to hold a so-called “national election,” claiming it will take place as early as December 2025 or January 2026. To advance this narrative, the junta-controlled immigration ministry, Union Election Commission (UEC), and relevant agencies are rushing to finalize a voter list. The junta-appointed immigration minister Myint Kyaing instructed local junta administrators to submit verified population records to the UEC and led a coordination meeting to accelerate the process. Earlier this month, the junta showcased its electronic voting machines to present “progress.”

Yet this is nothing more than political theater, as the junta attempts to change its shell from an unelected, illegitimate body to a so-called “elected government.” This is no surprise, given the military’s expertise in orchestrating political theater, as seen in 2010. The junta’s recent arbitrary dissolution of 40 political parties—including the National League for Democracy, which overwhelmingly won in 2015 and 2020—makes its real intentions crystal clear.

In addition, the illegitimate UEC said that voting will take place in 267 townships—a figure based on the junta’s illegal reconfiguration of the 330 officially recognized townships to artificially increase the number of townships under its control and create a false impression of broad electoral coverage. In fact, the majority of Myanmar’s territory, including key areas in central Myanmar once seen as military strongholds, is now under the effective control of the National Unity Government (NUG), Ethnic Resistance Organizations, and other people-led resistance forces. According to the NUG, around 144 out of the country’s 330 townships are under the control of resistance groups, and 79 townships are active conflict zones. 

On 9 June, the junta approved a new Rakhine State-based political party, the Rakhine Nationalities Party. With only three towns in Rakhine State still under junta control, undoubtedly no meaningful election could be held there. Furthermore, in a possible move to secure territory ahead of the sham election, the junta-allied Pa-O National Army ordered 6,000 residents of Hsihseng Township, southern Shan State, to relocate by 15 June. Last week, along the Shan–Karenni border, the junta deployed 2,000 troops in multiple columns and launched an offensive in Pekhon and Moebye Townships, resulting in fierce clashes. 

Meanwhile, in Loikaw Township, Karenni State—despite over 90% of Karenni State’s territory having been under the control and governance of the Karenni Interim Government for the past two years—election workshops held by junta personnel reveal the junta’s desperate attempt to force a vote amid its loss of territorial and administrative control to the people’s revolution. Additionally, arrests and threats in Loikaw and other towns still under junta control raise serious questions about the people’s security. A local resident from Loikaw said, “I don’t know how we’re supposed to vote. If we refuse, we don’t know what kind of threats we might face. Armed presence is everywhere and it’s terrifying.” These tactics are also reflected in other areas of the country still under the control of the junta and its allies, as they tighten their grip on key areas and manipulate demographics in preparation for the sham election. 

As the junta pushes its sham election plans, it continues to rely on violence to terrorize and collectively punish the people of Myanmar—carrying out airstrikes, displacing communities, and escalating attacks in areas where resistance is strong. According to the NUG’s Ministry of Human Rights, from 28 March to 6 June 2025, the junta conducted 552 airstrikes, killing 471 people and injuring 931 more. With relentless junta attacks causing widespread instability and mass displacement, the junta’s planned sham election would be neither free, fair, nor credible. 

More importantly, the junta has no legal or political legitimacy to hold an election—nor does it have the effective territorial or administrative control to do so. This sham election is its strategy to seek and entrench false legitimacy so it can reinforce its tyranny. The most dangerous political landmine of them all is to hold its sham election under the military-drafted 2008 constitution which provides it supreme political power and immunity. 

Any international support of the junta’s sham election plan—whether through direct engagement or in ways that lend false legitimacy—only serves to embolden its brutality and continue the vicious cycle of military violence. Technical, financial, and material support from China and Russia have fueled the junta’s efforts towards its electoral charade, while military support from these countries is aiding and abetting the junta’s atrocity crimes against Myanmar’s people. ASEAN must ensure that China and Russia stop meddling in its Member States’ affairs at the expense of people’s lives and immediately halt all engagements with the junta, including any activity possibly perceived as lending false legitimacy thereto. 

What the Myanmar people urgently need from the global community is genuine solidarity and practical assistance that further strengthen their resilience and resistance to win their revolution and rebuild their communities. Imposed solutions aiming to address the current polycrisis with quick fixes will only reinstate, reinforce, and prolong military tyranny, and exacerbate the Myanmar people’s suffering. Genuine, meaningful change can and will only come from the people of Myanmar working together to end military tyranny for good and establish an inclusive federal democracy and sustainable peace. The world must stand with them, not empower the murderous junta.

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[1] One year following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, the former military junta changed the country’s name from Burma to Myanmar overnight. Progressive Voice uses the term ‘Myanmar’ in acknowledgement that most people of the country use this term. However, the deception of inclusiveness and the historical process of coercion by the former State Peace and Development Council military regime into usage of ‘Myanmar’ rather than ‘Burma’ without the consent of the people is recognized and not forgotten. Thus, under certain circumstances, ‘Burma’ is used.

Progressive Voice is a participatory, rights-based policy research and advocacy organization that was born out of Burma Partnership. Burma Partnership officially ended its work on October 10, 2016 transitioning to a rights-based policy research and advocacy organization called Progressive Voice. For further information, please see our press release “Burma Partnership Celebrates Continuing Regional Solidarity for Burma and Embraces the Work Ahead for Progressive Voice.”