by Nava Thakuria
While much of the global community has condemned Myanmar’s ongoing three-phase general elections as a façade to legitimise military rule rather than a genuine move toward multiparty democracy, the country’s junta continues to deepen business engagement with neighbouring nations, including India.
Despite widespread poverty and political instability, the Southeast Asian nation—also known as Burma or Brahmadesh—is collaborating with several countries to boost natural gas production. According to the military-run daily Global New Light of Myanmar, the country of nearly 55 million people is strengthening cooperation with foreign partners in offshore oil and natural gas exploration projects.
Myanmar and Thailand are jointly expanding investments in oil and gas ventures in the Ayeyawady and Mottama sedimentary basins, including offshore blocks. India, meanwhile, has been undertaking exploration and drilling activities in areas close to the Andaman Islands, the newspaper reported.
Amid these economic engagements, the Myanmar armed forces—popularly known as the Tatmadaw—conducted the first phase of the general election on 28 December, even as a near-civil war situation continues to haunt the “Land of Golden Pagodas.” Voting took place in 102 of the country’s 330 townships, though many areas were excluded as they remain beyond the control of the military regime led by Min Aung Hlaing.
Anti-military ethnic armed groups, People’s Defence Forces, and other resistance organisations—now controlling nearly one-third of Myanmar’s territory—strongly opposed the polls. The junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) had planned elections in 274 townships, declaring the rest “disturbed and unstable,” particularly in Rakhine, Sagaing, and Shan regions.
Voting occurred under heavy security in major cities such as Naypyitaw, Yangon, and Mandalay, as well as parts of Bago and Ayeyawady regions. The pro-military Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) has already been declared the winner in 89 constituencies for the 330-member Pyithu Hluttaw, the lower house of Parliament.
The polling largely saw participation from elderly voters, many of whom appeared motivated by fear rather than political conviction. Younger voters—especially those not from military families—largely boycotted the election. A junta spokesperson claimed that 52 percent of over 11.5 million eligible voters participated in the first phase. By contrast, the 2015 and 2020 national elections—held under civilian rule—recorded turnout of around 70 percent, with landslide victories for the National League for Democracy, led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
Earlier, the UEC cancelled the registration of several major political parties. More than 40 parties, including the NLD, declined to re-register. Only six parties—the USDP, National Unity Party, People’s Pioneer Party, Myanmar Farmers Development Party, Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party, and People’s Party—were permitted to contest nationwide, while 51 smaller parties were allowed to participate only in regional assemblies.
Since the military coup of 1 February 2021 that overthrew the elected government in Naypyitaw, more than 7,500 people have been killed in anti-junta violence. Government forces have been accused of indiscriminate crackdowns, including airstrikes on civilian areas, hospitals, and schools. Thousands have been arrested, over 3.6 million people displaced, and nearly 20 million are now in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. An estimated 540,000 children face acute malnutrition across the underdeveloped country.
Large numbers of pro-democracy leaders and activists have fled to neighbouring Thailand, China, India, and Bangladesh to escape military persecution.
The United Nations, several Western governments, Japan, Australia, and international human rights groups have condemned the election as neither free nor fair. Anti-junta activists have labelled the exercise a sham designed to legitimise military rule and ease international sanctions. They argue that the polls are unlikely to result in an independent civilian government.
However, military chief Min Aung Hlaing, who cast his vote in Naypyitaw, insisted that the election would strengthen Myanmar’s democratic process. The polls were also rejected by the National Unity Government—Myanmar’s shadow government in exile—which accused the junta of continuing airstrikes against civilians even during the electoral period.
