"The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed an overwhelming victory. One senior party official suggested the USDP, led by retired generals and often described as a civilian proxy for the military, had won more than 80 percent of seats contested in the lower house of the legislature. Rights advocates and Western diplomats have slammed the vote as a sham, citing the military's broad crackdown on dissent and the exclusion of parties critical of its rule."
"These elections are clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression, United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said on December 23. There are no conditions for the exercise of the rights of freedom of expression, association or peaceful assembly that allow for the free and meaningful participation of the people. Turnout was also well below the levels seen in the last national elections in 2020, which stood at about 70 percent."
Myanmar's military reported that 52 percent of enrolled voters, more than six million people, cast ballots in the first phase of a three-part national election held amid an ongoing civil war. Voting covered only about a third of the country's 330 townships because large areas are inaccessible due to fighting. The pro-military USDP declared a sweeping victory, with officials claiming over 80 percent of contested lower-house seats. Rights groups and Western diplomats denounced the election as a sham, citing crackdowns on dissent and exclusion of critical parties. The UN said violence and repression prevented free, meaningful participation.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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