Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Citizens in Myanmar have started voting in an election for the first time in the five since that country's military coup, but many are calling the contest "fake" and "not for the people."
The election, planned for three stages -- starting with Sunday's vote in some areas of the country -- comes as civil war in the country has continued unabated since the ruling military junta took power in 2021.
Critics of the war and the election have said that the purpose is to reinforce the junta's control over areas of the country where it has solidified its rule, at least partially because the main opposition party has been barred from participating and only people living in areas controlled by the junta will be permitted to vote, the New York Times reported.
Although just a handful of countries support the junta, China and Russia among them, the military rulers hope that the election will stabilize the country and increase its ability to interact with the international community, NPR reported.
The Times reported that the United States, India and Cambodia may consider resuming business with the south Asian country as a result of holding an election -- the Trump administration referred to the "free and fair elections" as "notable progress" since the coup there.
