‘We will vote but not with our hearts’: Inside the election staged by Myanmar’s military rulers

Myanmar’s ruling military junta is proceeding with elections, a move that has drawn widespread international condemnation and is being labeled a fraudulent exercise. This marks the first electoral event since the military seized power in a coup in early 2021. Observers and global leaders have criticized the planned vote, asserting that it will not reflect the genuine will of the people and is designed to legitimize the military’s grip on power. The election is proceeding under the shadow of the ongoing political turmoil and human rights concerns that have plagued the country since the 2021 takeover.