Myanmar recently held elections between December 2025 and January 2026, but the United Nations has painted a stark picture of what truly transpired. Far from a step towards democracy, these elections were a brutal display of military power, designed to entrench army rule amid widespread violence and repression.
During the two-month voting period, Myanmar’s military conducted over 400 airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of at least 170 civilians. Shockingly, 2025 marked the deadliest year for civilians from airstrikes since 2021, with bombing campaigns continuing even on election days. The UN rights office condemned these “elections,” stating they utterly failed to respect fundamental human rights.
People weren’t voting freely; many were forced to cast ballots out of fear, not choice. Entire populations, including displaced persons and ethnic minorities like the Rohingya, were systematically excluded. Reports even detailed instances where villagers were arbitrarily detained and compelled to vote.
Beyond the physical attacks, the military ruthlessly crushed dissent. Hundreds of individuals, including women, were arrested for minor online activities under a unilaterally adopted election law, with some receiving shockingly disproportionate penalties – one person was sentenced to 49 years for posting anti-election material.
Five years after the military coup, the UN warns that despair is deepening. These “elections” were not about democratic progress; they were a violent tactic by the military to solidify its grip on power through fear and coercion, starkly highlighting the dire human rights situation in the country.
Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/170-civilians-killed-myanmar-airstrikes-election-un-5896486
