As Myanmar marks the fifth anniversary of the military coup, the United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has condemned the recent military-imposed elections. He stated that the electoral process failed to uphold the fundamental human rights of Myanmar’s citizens and has only heightened violence and societal division.
Türk expressed that the military’s takeover from the democratically elected government has robbed Myanmar of five years of peace and development. He noted, “The profound and widespread despair inflicted on the people of Myanmar has only deepened with the recent election staged by the military.” The elections, held in December 2025 and January 2026, were characterized by significant limitations and coercive practices.
Election Context and Human Rights Violations
The military conducted elections in only 263 out of 330 townships, primarily in urban areas under military control, leaving many regions, especially in conflict zones, without any voting options. Notably, marginalized groups, including the ethnic Rohingya, were entirely excluded from the electoral process. Reports indicate that during the voting period, approximately 170 civilians were killed due to 408 military aerial attacks.
One particularly devastating incident occurred on January 22, 2026, when a military airstrike in Bhamo Township, Kachin State, struck a populated area, resulting in the deaths of up to 50 civilians. In response to the military’s actions, armed opposition groups targeted election sites and officials. To suppress dissent, the military detained 324 men and 80 women under its newly enacted election protection law, including individuals who merely expressed opinions online.
Evidence of voter coercion was reported nationwide. In one instance on January 6, 2026, over 100 villagers from the Sagaing region were arbitrarily detained and forced to cast advance ballots. Many reported fears of forced conscription or losing access to essential resources, such as food and travel permits, if they refused to participate in the elections. Additionally, threats from armed groups further stifled any potential voter turnout.
Calls for Action and Humanitarian Concerns
The National League for Democracy (NLD), which had previously won a majority in the 2020 elections, was banned from participating, and many of its leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint, remain in detention under undisclosed conditions. Türk emphasized the ongoing repression, stating, “For five years now, the military’s rule has been characterized by repression of political dissent, mass arbitrary arrests, and widespread surveillance.”
“The military is seeking to entrench its rule-by-violence after forcing people to the ballot box. This couldn’t be further from civilian rule,”
he added. The humanitarian situation in Myanmar is also deteriorating rapidly, with nearly a quarter of the population facing high levels of acute food insecurity and over a third in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Türk expressed concern that conditions are expected to worsen without significant intervention.
In light of these grave circumstances, Türk called for the international community, particularly influential states, to intensify their efforts to end the violence. He urged for the restoration of democracy and the respect for human rights, echoing the demands of the Myanmar people over the past five years.
