Myanmar’s military leader, General Min Aung Hlaing, admitted on Wednesday that the military government will not be able to hold announced general elections across the country, due to the armed conflict that has been ongoing since a coup in 2021.
In an address shown on state television from the capital Naypyitaw, Hlaing said: “We cannot hold elections in 100 percent of the country.”
He added that in areas where this is currently not possible, elections will be held later – through by-elections, after the formation of a new government.
Elections in the shadow of war and boycott
The planned elections – the first since the military coup – are due to begin on December 28 and take place in phases throughout January. However, many Western countries and local critics call them “fake elections”, aimed at legitimizing the military government through its political allies.
Dozens of opposition and anti-junta parties are banned or refuse to participate.
Out of a total of 330 municipalities, the military government was able to conduct full field registration of voters in only 145 municipalities, according to the latest report from December, which states that Myanmar has a population of about 51.3 million.
Rules for party registration require each party to have at least 50,000 members and 100 million kyat (about US$47,700) in assets, leaving only six parties eligible to participate at the national level.
ASEAN invited to monitor elections
The military junta has called on ASEAN member states to send election observers. The invitation will be discussed at the upcoming summit of this regional organization, whose current chairmanship is assumed by Malaysia.
ASEAN includes Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
(Vijesti.ba)
