Myanmar resistance groups demand ASEAN reject regime ‘sham’ elections

Pro-democracy forces in Myanmar, opposed to the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, demanded that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reject any elections organized by the regime in Naypyidaw.

Regime media reported Friday that Malaysia would send observers to monitor its polls, which have been called a “sham” by several Western nations.

“If true, this would amount to a dangerous endorsement of a regime that has massacred civilians, jailed political opponents, and bombed its own people,” Charles Santiago, a former Malaysian lawmaker and the chairperson of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), told Free Malaysia Today on Oct. 11.

A statement signed by 20 anti-regime groups in Myanmar, including the National Unity Government (NUG), the Karen National Union (KNU), and the Chin National Front (CNF), claimed that such elections are illegitimate under the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus — the regional bloc’s peace plan which calls for an end to violence, the release of all political prisoners, and inclusive dialogue.

Regime leader Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the ASEAN peace plan in April 2021 but didn’t implement it upon his return to Myanmar. His regime, which seized power during the 2021 coup, has been barred from high-level ASEAN meetings and summits since 2022.

ASEAN member states will discuss the regime’s request to have observers monitor its elections, scheduled to begin on Dec. 28, during the ASEAN 47th summit later this month, according to chair Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Oct. 10. 

The press release shared by the Myanmar resistance groups on Oct. 10 stated that a total of six objectives have been met after meeting with Malaysia during its ASEAN chairmanship this year. 

The ASEAN chairmanship will bypass Myanmar in 2026 with the handover from Malaysia to the Philippines set to begin after the upcoming summit at the end of this month.

The Myanmar resistance groups added that their objectives included rejecting the regime’s “sham” elections, calling for ASEAN’s decisive action, and facilitating inclusive dialogue between the NUG and ethnic armed organizations. 

Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan visited Naypyidaw and met with regime officials, including Min Aung Hlaing, on Oct. 9.

At least 40 people, including civilians and members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF), were killed in Sagaing Region by paramotor attacks carried out by regime forces on Oct. 6.

The international community, including the U.N., Amnesty International, and the U.S. State Department, have condemned the attacks. 

At least 1,849 civilians have been killed by a total of 2,321 airstrikes on territory controlled by resistance forces in Myanmar since January, according to DVB data.