Myanmar’s ‘Elections’ Cement Military Control, Undermining True Democracy

As Myanmar’s new parliament prepares to convene on March 16 for its first session in over five years, the so-called electoral process that led to this moment raises stark questions about freedom, fairness, and sovereignty. The military seized power in a coup in 2021, toppling the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi — a move that plunged the nation into turmoil and a brutal civil war. Now, under a thin veneer of legitimacy offered by manipulated elections, the junta is consolidating its grip on power. Is This Really a Return to Democracy? The army-backed Union Solidarity and...