War-torn Myanmar votes in widely criticized ‘sham’ election

Myanmar has begun voting in a phased general election widely dismissed by critics as a sham, with major political parties dissolved, opposition leaders jailed and large swathes of the country unable to take part due to ongoing civil war.

The military government is holding the ballot nearly five years after seizing power in a 2021 coup that triggered mass protests and escalated into nationwide conflict. Observers say the junta, backed by China, is seeking to legitimise and entrench its rule amid a deepening political and humanitarian crisis.

More than 200 people have been charged under a new law for disrupting or opposing the polls, with penalties that include lengthy prison terms and the death sentence.

Polling began on Sunday following reports of explosions in at least two regions. In Mandalay, three people were hospitalised after a rocket attack on an uninhabited house, according to the regional chief minister. Separately, explosions in Myawaddy township near the Thai border damaged more than ten houses, with local residents reporting that a child was killed and others seriously injured.

Despite the violence, some voters told the BBC the process felt more “disciplined and systematic” than previous elections. “Before I voted, I was afraid. Now I feel relieved,” said Mandalay resident Ma Su ZarChi. First-time voter Ei Pyay Phyo Maung, 22, said she voted out of a sense of civic duty and hope for economic relief.

The junta has rejected criticism, insisting the vote will be free and fair and aimed at restoring a multi-party democratic system. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing said those refusing to vote were rejecting “progress toward democracy,” a claim strongly disputed by opposition groups and international observers.