UN accuses Myanmar junta of brutal violence, intimidation to vote
The United Nations has accused Myanmar's military junta of using violence and intimidation to force people to vote
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – The United Nations has accused Myanmar’s military junta of using violence and intimidation to force people to vote in forthcoming military-controlled elections, while armed opposition groups are using similar tactics to keep people away from the polls.
“The military authorities in Myanmar must stop using brutal violence to compel people to vote and stop arresting people for expressing any dissenting views,” United Nations rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement.
He also denounced “serious threats from armed groups opposing the military.”
Myanmar’s junta is set to preside over voting starting December 28, touting the heavily restricted polls as a return to democracy five years after it ousted the last elected government, triggering a civil war that continues to ravage the country.
However, former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains jailed and her hugely popular party was dissolved after soldiers ended the nation’s decade-long democratic experiment in February 2021.
International monitors have dismissed the phased month-long vote as a rebranding of martial rule rather than genuine democratic reform.
Türk, who last month told AFP that holding elections in Myanmar under the current circumstances was “unfathomable,” warned Tuesday that civilians were being threatened by both the military authorities and armed opposition groups over their participation in the polls.
His statement highlighted the dozens of individuals who have reportedly been detained under an “election protection law” for exercising their freedom of expression.
The law has been criticized by human rights groups as a tool to suppress dissent and create the appearance of participation in what many observers consider illegitimate elections.
The situation underscores the deepening crisis in Myanmar, where the military’s attempt to legitimize its rule through controlled elections has been met with skepticism both domestically and internationally, while civilians face pressure from multiple armed factions.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
