Military Council leader Min Aung Hlaing is actively conducting forced election campaign activities during his visit to Magway city, pressuring soldiers, civil servants and civilians to participate in the upcoming election. During his meeting with soldiers and officers at the Magway military command, he specifically urged them to vote in the upcoming election. He also met with civil servants, business owners, and self-proclaimed town elders to campaign for election participation.
Min Aung Hlaing instructed the soldiers that when selecting candidates for the election to be held in December, they must choose individuals who are qualified and have genuine concern for the country. He emphasized that they must not fail to cast their votes and should act as good citizens. During meetings with civil servants and some civilians, he stated that the military would make arrangements to ensure all eligible voters can cast their votes, adding that if they want a democratic system, they must participate in the election.
According to a military source in Naypyidaw with direct connection to the Magway military command, instructions have been given to ensure there are voters in all military townships without fail. The source revealed that all frontline service personnel are ordered to cast advance votes, and all military townships are directed to actively participate in election campaign activities. The military council has announced that the first phase of the election will be held on December 28, with subsequent phases continuing into January.
However, the majority of the public rejects and opposes this election, viewing it as an attempt by the coup military council to legitimize their illegal rule. The military’s aggressive campaign for election participation comes amid widespread resistance from the people, who see the planned election as merely a tool to entrench military power rather than a genuine democratic process. The military council’s efforts to force participation in the election through various forms of pressure and coercion reflects their struggle to gain legitimacy in the face of continued public opposition and resistance to their rule.
