Joint Statement on Sham Election Ahead ASEAN Summit

24 October 2025

24 OCTOBER 2025 – ASEAN MUST UNEQUIVOCALLY REJECT MYANMAR JUNTA’S SHAM ELECTION DURING THE SUMMIT

We, the undersigned trade unions, civil society, and human rights organisations from across the ASEAN region and international community, issue this urgent and unequivocal call to our governments ahead of the upcoming ASEAN Summit: outrightly reject the Myanmar military junta’s planned sham election. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people of Myanmar and a stain on the conscience of our entire region.

The junta’s planned election on 28 December 2025 is an illegal, cynical ploy to manufacture a façade of legitimacy for its rule of terror. This is the same military that defied the people’s landslide verdict in 1990 and staged the fraudulent 2010 polls to disguise dictatorship as reform. To believe its promises now is to wilfully disregard history.

A genuine election cannot take place amid mass killings and repression. It is a charade held under the barrel of a gun. The junta has waged war on its own people, killing over 7,300 civilians, arbitrarily detaining more than 29,000, and displacing over 3.5 million. It has outlawed legitimate political parties, imprisoned and tortured democratic leaders, and enacted draconian electoral laws that impose the death penalty for dissent. As the UN Special Rapporteur stated, this is not an election, but a “fraud.” In fact, this process has nothing to do with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus; it is a unilateral act of a murderous junta that will only exacerbate the conflict.

The international democratic community has taken a firm stand. The European Union has refused to send observers, calling the poll a “regime-sponsored” exercise with only one possible outcome. In Bangkok, parliamentarians from Ireland, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and New Zealand reaffirmed their unified rejection of the junta’s so-called election and called for global solidarity with Myanmar’s democracy movement. Respected electoral monitoring bodies, including International IDEA and ANFREL, have unequivocally rejected the junta’s planned election and called it falling short of democratic legitimacy. ASEAN cannot afford to isolate itself by becoming an enabler of this farce.

To grant any form of recognition to this process is to give the junta a green light for more atrocities. This is a regime that bombs villages on holy days and launches airstrikes in the aftermath of earthquakes. Endorsing its electoral charade will only prolong the suffering of millions and add legitimacy to the weapons and aviation fuel it uses to terrorise civilians.

ASEAN member states have a profound moral and international obligation to act. The historic ILO Resolution under Article 33, adopted in June 2025, explicitly calls on all governments to “review… the relations they may have with Myanmar military authorities” to ensure they do not “enable, facilitate or prolong” these gross violations. Likewise, UN Security Council Resolution 2669 and ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus demand an immediate end to violence. Failure to reject this election would render ASEAN complicit in the junta’s crimes against humanity.

The world is watching. ASEAN’s credibility—and its future as a community founded on peace, democracy, and human rights—is at stake. We therefore demand that our leaders issue a clear, firm, and unified statement rejecting the junta’s sham election and refusing to recognise its outcome. There must be no room for vague diplomatic language that the junta can manipulate for its propaganda.

We call specifically on Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, and on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to demonstrate moral leadership. As a lifelong champion of free and fair elections who has personally endured political persecution, his voice must be the loudest and consistent in upholding democratic values, not just in Malaysia, but across our region.

This is a call for moral clarity, a call to stand on the right side of history.

We urge all governments, institutions, and organisations of conscience to:

UNEQUIVOCALLY REJECT the Myanmar junta’s sham election.
REFUSE to send observers or provide any form of technical or political support.
STAND FIRMLY in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their legitimate democratic representatives.

Endorsed by:

Regional/ International Organisation:

Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) – Asia Pacific
Education International (EI) – Asia Pacific
IndustriALL – Southeast Asia
International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) – Asia Pacific
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) – Asia Pacific
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – Asia Pacific
International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) – Asia Pacific
International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF) – Asia Pacific
Public Services International (PSI) – Asia Pacific
UNI Global Union – Asia Pacific
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA
ASEAN Services Employers Trade Union Council (ASETUC)
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA)
Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia
Milk Tea Alliance Friends of Myanmar
Campaign for a New Myanmar
Burma Campaign UK
International Campaign for the Rohingya
MilkTeaAlliance Calendar Team
Info Birmanie
Italia-Birmania.Insieme

ASEAN Member States:

Malaysia (2025 ASEAN Chair):

Sabah Timber Industry Employees’ Union (STIEU)
Union of Forestry Employees’ Union (UFES)
Malay Forestry Officers’ Union (MFOU)
Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor
National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers Malaysia (NUTEAIW)
Sabah Plantation Industries Employees Union (SPIEU)
National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)
Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union
Malayan Nurses Union
Electronic Industry Employees’ Union Western Region Peninsula Malaysia
National Union of Journalists – Peninsula Malaysia (NUJM)
BERSIH – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
IKRAM Malaysia
Greater Equitable Measures (GEM)
Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo
Pride In Research
Tenaganita
North South Initiative (NSI)
HAYAT
MANDIRI
Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)
PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out!
Beyond Borders Malaysia
Aliran
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall – Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH-CRC)
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall – Youth Committee (KLSCAH Youth)
G25 Malaysia
Persatuan Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya (Martabat PJ)
Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)
Society for the Promotion of Human Rights
PUSAT KOMAS
To Earth with Love
Kachin State Civilian Movement
All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Kachin Refugee Learning Centre
Muslim Aid Malaysia
Rohingya Society in Malaysia (RSM)
University of Malaya Association for New Youth (UMANY)
Suara Mahasiswa University Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
Gerakan Anak Muda Pantai Timur (GEMPUR)
Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
Ikatan Anak Muda Tawau (IKAT)
Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
SIS Forum (Malaysia)

Myanmar:

⁠Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM)
Building and Wood Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (BWFM)
Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar (AFFM)
Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM)
Food Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (FWFM)
Energy Unions Federation of Myanmar (EUFM)
Myanmar Railway Workers Union Federation (MRWUF)
Myanmar Employer Organization (MEO)
Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA)
Progressive Voice (PV)
Blood Brotherhood
OWetlet (Youth Organization)
New Rehmonnya Federated Force (NRFF)
Coalition of Burma Ethnic Malaysia
MAGGA Initiative
Anyar Taw Eain
Educational Initiatives Myanmar
Ta’ang Youth
Karenni Political Prisoners Association (KPPA)
Taunggyi Educational Learning Hub
Tamar Institute of Development
Mon State Development Center(MSDC)
Mon State Development Center
Youth Congress Rohingya (YCR)
Uinion POf Karenni State Youth
Kachin Human Rights Watch
Pakokku Youth Development Council
Inle Women Union
The Human Rights of Inle Region
Inle Federal Democracy Movement
Myanmar Journalist Network
Wetlet Strike Committee
5/ of Zaya State Strike Committee
A New Burma (ANB)
Action Committee for Democracy Development
Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC -Mandalay)
Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
Anyar Pyit Taing Htaung Lay Myar
Arakan Youth Peace Network (AYPN)
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
ASR-ASSOCIATION of SPRING RAINBOW
Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organisation
Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
AWDO ငဖဲ။
AWDO ဧရာဝတီမြစ် အနောက်ဖက် ဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေး အင်အားစု
A-Yar-Taw People Strike Steering Committee
Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
Budalin Strike Force
Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
Campaign for New Myanmar
Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
Chin Community in Norway
Civil Information Network (CIN)
CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
CRPH Funding Ireland
CRPH Support Group, Norway
Dagon University Student’s Union (DUSU)
Defend Myanmar Democracy
Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
Federal Myanmar Tourism Committee
Federal Myanmar Tourism Union
Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC)
General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB)
Generation Wave
Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities (GSCN)
GGWDO ဂန့်ဂေါဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့။
Hpakant Hmawlae Strike Force
HTY Scout Channel
Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
Insein Scout Channel
Inter Religious Institute for Peace (IRIP)
Justice and Equality Focus (JEF)
Justice For Myanmar
Kachin Association Norway
Kalay Township People’s Strike Steering Committee – KPSSC
Kanbalu Strike Force
Kani Strike Force
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
Karenni Civil Society Network (KCSN)
K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
Kyae Lak Myay
Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
Kyimyindaing Scout Channel
Latpadaung Anti-coup Strike Force
Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO)
LGBT Alliance Myanmar
Los Angeles Myanmar Movement
Magway People’s Revolution Committee
Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
MATA စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်း
MayMyo Strike Force
Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
Myanmar Catholic Community In Norway
Myanmar Community in Norway
Myanmar Hindu Union
Myaung People Strike Steering Committee
Myaung Youth Network
MyaYar Knowledge Tree
Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
New Step Women Empowerment Group
NOK Information & Scout Echo
North Dagon & East Dagon News
Norway Matu Community
Norway Rvwang Community
Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
Olive Organization
Owl Community
Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
PDO ပွင့်ဖြူ ဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
People Defense Supporting Force
People Strikes Force
Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
Queers of Burma Alternative
Rohingya Community in Norway
Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)
Shwe Bo Strike Force
Sisters2Sisters
Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
South Dagon Scouting Infos (SDG)
Southern Initiatives
⁠Southern Youth Development Organization
Ta’ang Students and Youth Union (TSYU)
Ta’ang Women’s Organization (TWO)
Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
The Ladies Organization⁠
Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY)
University of Medicine Mandalay Student Union Revolutionary Front (UMMSURF)
University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
Volunteers in Myanmar
Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
Yain Nwehh Par – ယိမ်းနွဲ့ပါး (Rainbow Win The Storm – RIS)
Yangon Deaf Group
Yangon Public Relations
Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
Zomi Community Norway
မင်းဘူး တောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့။
မင်းလှ တောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့။
အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
National Youth Congress (NYC)
Burma Human Rights Network
Karen Swedish Community (KSC)

Philippines:

Associated Labor Union (ALU)
Burma Solidarity Philippines
Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
Independent RightPak Employees Union
Mitsubishi Motors Workers Union–Philippines
National Federation of Labor (NFL)
National Public Workers Congress (PUBLIK)
National Union of Bank Employees–Insurance and Finance Organization (NUBE-IFO)
National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW)
Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA)
PKI Employees Welfare Union
PKI Supervisory Union
Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
TF Logistics Philippines Supervisory Union
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
Union Network International–Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC)
Unified Filipino Service Workers (UFSW)
Workers Union of Pozzolanic Philippines Inc.
Manila Water Employees Union (MWEU)
Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector (AGWWAS)
Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA)
Maynilad Water Supervisors Association (MWSA)
Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW)
Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)
Partido Manggagawa (PM)
National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
NAGKAISA Labor Coalition from Philippines
Partido Sosyalista

Indonesia:

AJI Indonesia
Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM) STHI Jentera
Federasi Kebangkitan Buruh Indonesia (FKUI)
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Metal Indonesia (FSPMI)
Federasi Serikat Buruh Kerakyatan Indonesia (SERBUK Indonesia)
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Bandara Indonesia (FSPBI)
Federasi Serikah Buruh Persatuan Indonesia (FSBPI)
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Mandiri (FSPM)
Federasi Serikat Pekerja Pulp dan Kertas Indonesia (FSP2KI)
Federation of Pharmaceutical and Health Workers Union
Gabungan Solidaritas Perjuangan Buruh (GSPB)
Serikat Buruh Federasi Kehutanan, Industri Umum, Perkayuan dan Pertanian Konfederasi Serikat Buruh Sejahtera Indonesia (FHUKATAN-KSBSI)
Independent Educator Union Indonesia (INERU Indonesia)
Jaringan Nasional Advokasi Pekerja Rumah Tangga (Jala PRT)
Keluarga Seni Pinggiran Anti-Kapitalisasi Serikat Pengamen Indonesia (Kepal SPI)
Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia Untuk Keadilan dan Demokrasi (KPI)
Komisi Untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan (Kontras)
Komite IWD Tulungagung
Konfederasi Persatuan Buruh Indonesia (KPBI)
Koreksi.org
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH Jakarta)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH Makassar)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Surabaya Pos Malang (LBH Pos Malang)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Bali (LBH Bali)
Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Surabaya (LBH Surabaya)
Local Initiative for Occupational Safety and Health Network Indonesia (LION)
Marsinahid.ID
Partai Pembebasan Rakyat (PPR)
Sentral Gerakan Buruh Nasional (SGBN)
Serikat Buruh Konstruksi Indonesia SBKI)
Serikat Pekerja Angkutan Indonesia (SPAI)
Serikat Pekerja Kertas Pindo Deli Karawang (SPKPD)
Serikat Pekerja Media dan Industri Kreatif untuk Demokrasi (SINDIKASI)
Serikat Pekerja Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum Jakarta (SPPDAM Jakarta)
Serikat Pekerja PT PLN Persero (SP PLN)
SP Angkasa Pura Indonesia (SPAP)
SPNP (Serikat Pekerja PLN Nusantara Power)
Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia – YLBHI (Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation)

Thailand:

Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma Foundation
Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF)
Humanitarian Self Help Group
Milk Tea Alliance Thailand
Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD)
ETOs Watch Coalition
The Mekong Butterfly
Rangsit Area Labour Union Group (RLUG)
Workers’ Union Thailand
Progressive Movement Foundation, Thailand

Timor-Leste:

Timor Leste Press Union (TLPU)
Working Women’s Centre Timor-Leste
Syndicate Domestic Workers
Timor Leste Trade Union Confederation/ Konfederasaun Sindikatu Tumor Leste (TLTUC/ KSTL)
Electricity, Carpenter and Construction Workers Union of Timor Leste – SITRECC
Albano dos Santos

Cambodia: