Kuala Lumpur/Yangon – On Thursday, ⁢October 3, 2024, Malaysian Foreign minister Mohamad⁢ Hasan visited⁣ Myanmar and emphasized to the ruling military regime that any planned general election, currently slated for December, must‍ be inclusive and nationwide. Hasan specifically called for the participation of ⁤”all political parties and stakeholders” in the electoral process. [Nikkei Asia](https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Myanmar-election-Malaysia-urges-inclusive-vote)

The visit comes as Myanmar remains deeply unstable following the February 2021 military coup that ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. ‍The coup triggered widespread protests and a subsequent brutal crackdown by the military, leading to a⁢ protracted⁣ civil war involving various ethnic armed organizations and pro-democracy⁤ resistance groups.

Hasan’s message underscores the growing international pressure on⁢ the Myanmar junta to return the contry to a⁤ path towards democracy. Many countries and organizations have condemned the planned elections as lacking legitimacy due to⁢ the ongoing repression and exclusion of key political actors.

Background: The 2021 Coup and Subsequent Conflict

On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar military (Tatmadaw) seized power, alleging widespread fraud in the november 2020 general election, which saw ‍a landslide victory for Aung San⁤ Suu Kyi’s‍ National League for Democracy (NLD). These claims were widely disputed. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-military-stages-coup-detains-aung-san-suu-kyi-2021-02-01/)

The coup led to⁤ mass protests across the country, met with increasingly ⁢violent repression by the military. The crackdown prompted many civilians to take up arms, forming People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) aligned with the ousted NLD government. These PDFs, along with established ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades, now control significant territory in Myanmar.

The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with millions displaced and facing food insecurity. The United Nations estimates that over 1.8 million people have been internally displaced since the coup. [UNHCR](https://www.unhcr.org/myanmar-emergency.html)

The Planned December Election: Concerns and Criticisms

The military ‍regime has announced ‍plans to hold general⁣ elections in December 2024, but the process has been widely criticized as undemocratic and lacking⁢ credibility. Key concerns include:

• Exclusion of Political Parties: The NLD and other opposition parties have been banned or severely restricted, preventing them from participating in the elections.
• Restrictions on Freedoms: Freedom of speech, assembly, and the press remain severely curtailed, making a ⁤fair campaign impractical.
• Displacement and Voter Access: Millions of people have been displaced ⁤by the ‍conflict, ⁤raising questions about their ability to register and vote.
• lack of International Observation: The junta has not invited autonomous international observers to monitor the elections.

Critics⁢ argue that the elections are a sham designed⁢ to legitimize the military’s rule ⁤and consolidate its‍ power. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations ⁢(ASEAN) has also expressed concerns about the lack of progress towards a peaceful resolution to the crisis and the⁢ credibility of the planned elections. [The Irrawaddy](https://www.ir