The first phase of Myanmar’s general election has concluded, and ASEAN will carefully assess developments surrounding the vote, avoiding any premature actions that might confer legitimacy on any political party in Myanmar.
On Tuesday (December 30), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whose country holds the rotating ASEAN chairmanship, said ASEAN leaders would continue to “carefully consider ongoing developments, including measures currently underway in Myanmar’s political process.”
“Any assessment will proceed step by step, with the aim of reducing violence, avoiding actions that could deepen divisions or prematurely grant legitimacy, and preserving the possibility of an inclusive and credible path forward,” he said.
Myanmar held the first phase of its general election on December 28, with the second and third phases scheduled for January 11 and 25, respectively.
The military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) claimed an overwhelming lead in the first phase. However, the Union Election Commission has not yet announced when it will release official results.
A senior party member, speaking anonymously to AFP, said the USDP won in 82 out of 102 townships participating in the first phase.
On Tuesday, Myanmar’s military junta accused anti-government armed groups of carrying out “malicious and brutal” attacks on the eve and day of the election, using drones, rockets, and bombs, which injured at least five civilians.
According to the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper, anti-government forces launched attacks over the weekend—from Saturday (December 27) to Sunday night (December 28)—in 11 of the 102 townships involved in the first voting phase. These attacks included “firing homemade heavy weapons and rockets from long range” and “using drones to drop bombs.” Some strikes directly targeted polling stations, while others hit government buildings and residential areas.
The junta also accused these groups of sending threatening letters, spreading disinformation, and preventing voters from reaching polling stations, with the aim of “disrupting the electoral process… destroying open polling stations, and intimidating voters.”
This is Myanmar’s first election since the 2021 military coup, but its credibility has been widely questioned by the international community, with observers viewing the vote as a facade for the military to prolong its rule.
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