UN Warns of Coercion and Violence Ahead of Myanmar’s Military-Run Elections

UN Warns of Coercion and Violence Ahead of Myanmar’s Military-Run Elections
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The United Nations has accused Myanmar’s military authorities of using violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrests to force civilians to participate in upcoming junta-controlled elections, Arab News reported. The UN also said armed opposition groups were employing similar tactics to discourage voter turnout, leaving civilians caught between rival threats.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the military must halt the use of force to compel voting and stop detaining individuals for expressing dissent. He warned that the planned polls, due to begin in phases from Sunday, are being held in an atmosphere of repression and fear rather than free political choice.

Myanmar’s junta has portrayed the tightly controlled vote as a step toward restoring democracy, five years after overthrowing the elected government in 2021. However, former leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains imprisoned and her party has been dissolved, prompting international observers to dismiss the process as an attempt to legitimize continued military rule.

The UN said dozens of people have been detained under an “election protection law,” with some receiving severe prison sentences. In one case, three youths were reportedly sentenced to more than 40 years in jail for displaying anti-election posters. Reports also indicate that displaced civilians have been threatened with violence or property seizure if they refuse to return to vote.

Türk further noted that armed groups opposing the junta have abducted civilians and attacked election-related facilities, injuring staff. He concluded that the elections are taking place amid widespread violence, with no conditions for genuine political participation or the protection of basic freedoms.