Close to five years since the February 2021 coup that overturned the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy’s (NLD) landslide electoral victory in the 2020 elections, Myanmar’s military junta, also known as Tatmadaw, is now conducting a three-phase controlled election. The first phase of the “election” was held on December 28 under tight security and saw sparse turnout. Subsequent phases are scheduled for January 11 and 25.
The NLD, whose exiles lead the National Unity Government that oversees Bamar-identity dominated militias called the Peoples’ Defence Forces and is fighting the junta across several parts of the country, was among 40 parties — which accounted for 90% of the seats won in 2020 — that have been barred from contesting. Others include the Arakan National Party in Rakhine and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy. The junta-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), packed with former junta officials and active-duty officers contesting as civilians, has deployed the largest number of contestants taking on what is considered just token Opposition.
