The situation in Myanmar is dire as the military junta prepares for a widely contested sham election scheduled for December 28, 2025. Four years after the coup that overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, the country continues to face civil war and widespread suffering. Current estimates suggest that approximately 80% of the nation is under the control of resistance forces. This ongoing conflict has displaced millions, taken the lives of thousands, and created conditions that negate the possibility of a fair election. “The junta government permits illegal activities to keep young people distracted from political movements,” noted Pa Oo, a 59-year-old Shan woman, highlighting how the military manipulates societal engagement to maintain its grip on power.
As major opposition parties refuse to participate, viewing the election as illegitimate, the military’s Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) orchestrates a façade of legitimacy. Prominent parties, such as the National League for Democracy (NLD) and ethnic political organizations like the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), stand outside this charade, understanding that true representation and democracy cannot blossom under the junta’s oppressive climate. Nang Kham Ing, a medical service worker, encapsulated the division and lack of choice: “In Myanmar, there are two main parties—the NLD and the USDP. The NLD is pro-democracy, while the USDP supports the military junta.” This dichotomy underscores the absence of genuine political options in the upcoming election.
In a bid to inflate participation and legitimatize their power, the junta is expanding ID card issuance, aggressively pursuing young voters who may sway towards electoral support for the military regime. The backdrop of rampant social issues, including drug addiction and sex work fostered by organized crime, underscores the deteriorating quality of life many face, further distracting the populace from political realities. “Gambling venues, drug dens, and KTV establishments operate openly,” Pa Oo observed, linking these detrimental environments to the regime’s strategy to divert focus away from political dissent.
The December election, primarily featuring candidates sympathetic to the junta, reflects a blatant disregard for democratic principles. Candidates from parties like the Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP), aligned with military interests, propagate the illusion of choice while ensuring military rule goes unchallenged. Sai Sur Han, a candid aspirant from the SNDP, expressed a conflicted sentiment: “I know this is an unfair election, but there is no choice. Doing something is better than doing nothing.” This resignation to an unjust scenario reveals the complex calculations many individuals face in a landscape tilted against genuine representation.
The absurdity of this election is crystalized against the backdrop of ongoing violence that suffocates the opportunity for a meaningful political process. Citizens find themselves dodging bullets while grappling with the threat of militia reprisals, effectively rendering participation in elections a remote possibility. “Once the military party wins,” Sai Si Ha, a Shan migrant worker, said, “they will continue fighting against the People’s Defense Force (PDF), claiming these organizations are terrorists.” The military’s anticipated victory underscores its intent to maintain power through fear and oppression.
As the international community watches, concerns mount regarding the potential legitimization of the junta’s actions. Many in Myanmar now fear that the Trump administration and other Western governments may normalize their relations with the junta, further isolating democratically inclined factions within the country. Amid this unfolding crisis, hope remains that external pressure might spur a genuine quest for democracy, but for now, the military’s grip appears unshakeable. The resistance continues its struggle, a testament to both resilience and despair against an overwhelmingly oppressive regime.
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