Min Aung Hlaing Calls for Tightened Protection as Myanmar Votes Near

Myanmar’s military head and acting president, Min Aung Hlaing, called for more security for political candidates, party members, and voters before elections in December and January. He also warned of increasing attacks against civil servants, reminding the meeting that the election must be conducted as planned.

In Naypyitaw, Min Aung Hlaing spoke at the first meeting of the newly created election commission. He ordered the formation of “people’s security” groups, even highlighting new election laws, with punishments of a three-year imprisonment sentence to the death penalty, for anything related to elections.

The military officially transferred long-running control after declaring an emergency and relinquished nominal power to a civilian-led, interim administration to oversee the elections. Critics contend that the military is very much in charge behind the scenes as the transitional period remains ambiguous.

The upcoming election will be viewed as a sham in the West as the opposition parties are dissolved or barred from participation while much of the nation remains in civil war. The civil wars and instability in Myanmar have resulted in more than half the townships not being able to hold voter registration.