Myanmar is holding its first elections in five years

"SULLIVAN: Yeah, especially when even the military's leader admits the election can't even be held in many contested or rebel-held areas. And by some estimates, that's about half the country. And then there's the junta's heavy-handed tactics to make sure their proxy party comes out on top. It's banned Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy from taking part. The NLD crushed the military-backed party in the last election in 2020. And by holding the election only in areas it controls,"

"And there's also this new law enacted by the military that bans any criticism of the poll. And some 200 people have been detained, some threatened with years in prison, many for simply voicing their opposition on social media. So intimidation and coercion have been the norm in the run-up to this election. SIMON: And what about international reaction? SULLIVAN: Well, most Western governments, the U.N. and human rights groups are calling it a sham."

Myanmar holds its first election since the military seized power five years ago amid a brutal civil war and widespread instability. The military claims the vote will be "free and fair" and will restore democratic rule, while the National League for Democracy is banned and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains detained. The junta admits the election cannot be held in many contested or rebel-held areas, perhaps half the country. The military enacted a law banning criticism, detained roughly 200 people, and employed intimidation to shape outcomes. Western governments, the U.N., and rights groups call the vote a sham, while Russia and China endorse it for strategic and economic reasons.

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