YANGON: Myanmar’s junta ended the country’s state of emergency on Thursday, ramping up preparations for a December election being boycotted by opposition groups and criticized by international monitors. The military declared a state of emergency in February 2021 as it deposed the civilian government of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking a many-sided civil war which has claimed thousands of lives. The order gave junta chief Min Aung Hlaing supreme power over the legislature, executive and judiciary — but he has recently touted elections as an off-ramp to the conflict.

Opposition groups are set to boycott the December poll, which a UN expert has already branded ‘a fraud’.

YANGON: Myanmar’s junta ended the country’s state of emergency on Thursday, ramping up preparations for a December election being boycotted by opposition groups and criticized by…

Opposition groups have vowed to snub poll that has been dismissed as ‘a fraud’ designed to legitimise military’s rule

The military government hopes elections can bring more international legitimacy. But the generals will still rule, and opposition groups are boycotting.

General Min Aung Hlaing to lead an 11-member commission to supervise the elections, expected in December.