22, February, 2023: Will the elections in Myanmar lead the country onto more chaos ? Read to know more.
A UN special envoy warned that Junta preparations for elections in Myanmar this year will "fuel further violence" and urged the global community to protest against it.
Since the junta overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's democratic government two years ago, Myanmar has been in chaos. The constitution mandates that after the junta-declared state of emergency expires at the end of January, the government must start making preparations for new elections.
According to UN special envoy Noeleen Heyzer, “ Any junta powered election will fuel greater violence, prolong the conflict and make the return to democracy and stability more difficult”
Any elections, according to the United States, would be a "sham." Russia, a junta supporter, has stated its support for elections.
The military's proclaimed plan to organize elections amid continued arrests, persecution, and harassment of political leaders, civilians, and journalists, according to a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, has him "concerned."
The latest indication that the junta plans to hold new elections this year is that it gave current and potential political parties two months to re-register under a rigorous new electoral law last month. According to analysts, the proposed poll cannot be ‘free and fair’ in the current environment.
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