UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed serious concerns about the Myanmar military council’s announcement to hold elections amid ongoing conflicts and human rights violations in the country. He emphasized that the current situation in Myanmar is not conducive to holding free and fair elections, stating that the military’s announcement cannot address the political crisis facing the nation. The Secretary-General stressed that the current circumstances make it impossible to conduct genuine democratic elections while widespread violence and human rights violations continue.
The UN Secretary-General has called for the immediate release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. He has also demanded an end to the ongoing conflicts and violence, urging all parties to respect human rights and international humanitarian law, and to reduce ethnic tensions. Guterres highlighted how the military council’s airstrikes, burning of civilian homes, arbitrary arrests, and threats have effectively stripped Myanmar’s people of their political rights. He pointed out that these actions have created an environment where citizens cannot freely exercise their democratic rights.
Since the coup, the military council has systematically perpetrated violence, detentions, and killings against civilians. They have also engaged in the confiscation of civilian property, forced military conscription, and committed war crimes. The Secretary-General has assessed that the military council’s announcement of elections under these circumstances appears to be an attempt to mislead the international community. The ongoing humanitarian crisis, widespread displacement, and systematic suppression of basic freedoms make it impossible for any meaningful electoral process to take place. The Secretary-General’s statement reflects the international community’s understanding that genuine democratic processes cannot occur under the current military regime’s oppressive rule.
