Myanmar junta holds second phase of election widely decried as a ‘sham exercise’
The Guardian••general
Key Points:
- Voters in Myanmar participated in the second stage of a military-run election amid ongoing conflict and widespread criticism that the polls are designed to legitimize junta rule.
- The National League for Democracy, led by detained Aung San Suu Kyi, and other opposition parties were dissolved or barred from participating, while rebel groups have refused to take part.
- The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) leads decisively after the first phase, which saw low voter turnout of just over 52%, significantly less than previous elections.
- The United Nations and many international observers have condemned the election as neither free nor fair, warning that any military-controlled government lacks broad legitimacy and recognition.
- Despite the junta’s claims that
