The Karen National Union (KNU) has today, August 26, issued an important statement declaring its complete rejection of the election planned by the military junta, stating it is legally invalid. The statement emphasizes that the military’s planned election lacks conditions for inclusive public participation and is designed to produce results favorable to the military. The KNU explicitly states that this election process is illegitimate and cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
The statement highlights that the military’s election is solely intended to perpetuate the military dictatorship and does not represent a solution to the current political crisis. The KNU warns that this election will likely intensify domestic conflicts and continue regional instability. The military council has enacted new laws to suppress public opposition to the election and is attempting to force public participation through intimidation. The statement also points out that the military’s election efforts deliberately ignore ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus and represent nothing more than a sham election designed to benefit the military’s interests. The KNU cautions that political parties participating in such a fraudulent election would obstruct the future establishment of a federal democratic system.
The KNU firmly believes that Myanmar’s political conflicts can only be resolved through the drafting of a genuine federal democratic constitution, which must emerge from inclusive political dialogue involving all stakeholders. The statement strongly urges the public and political parties to avoid participating in this sham election through various means, warning that such participation would effectively support the extension of military dictatorship and legitimize their power grab. The KNU specifically calls on Karen people, armed organizations, political forces, and the broader public to resist this military-beneficial selection process through non-violent means. The statement emphasizes that only through establishing a new federal democratic constitution, followed by genuine elections, can Myanmar’s deep-rooted political conflicts be resolved.
