‘Vote or face violence’: UN raises alarm over Myanmar junta tactics

Geneva: The United Nations on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the conduct of forthcoming elections in Myanmar, accusing the ruling military junta of using violence and intimidation to compel people to vote.

Speaking in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said the military authorities were engaging in “brutal violence” to force civilian participation in elections that are expected to be tightly controlled by the junta.

“The military authorities in Myanmar must stop using brutal violence to compel people to vote and stop arresting people for expressing any dissenting views,” Turk said in a statement.

Arrests and intimidation of dissenters

The UN has repeatedly warned that the proposed elections, announced by the military after it seized power in a coup in February 2021, lack credibility amid widespread repression. According to rights groups, political parties have been dissolved, opposition figures jailed or driven underground, and basic freedoms curtailed.

Turk said arrests were being carried out against individuals who criticised the election process or expressed opposition to the military’s political roadmap, further undermining the legitimacy of the vote.

Armed groups also accused of threats

While criticising the junta, the UN rights chief also condemned the actions of armed resistance groups fighting the military regime. He said there were “serious threats from armed groups opposing the military” aimed at discouraging people from taking part in the polls.

This, he noted, placed civilians in an increasingly dangerous position, caught between coercion from the military authorities and intimidation by armed opposition forces.

Elections under military rule questioned

Myanmar has been gripped by conflict since the 2021 coup, with the military facing widespread resistance from pro-democracy groups and ethnic armed organisations. The junta has presented elections as a path back to civilian rule, but critics argue the process is designed to entrench military control rather than restore democracy.

The UN has consistently called for an end to violence, the release of political prisoners, and inclusive dialogue involving all stakeholders, warning that elections held under repression and fear cannot reflect the will of the people.

The situation, Turk said, highlights the urgent need to protect civilians’ rights and ensure that political participation in Myanmar is free from violence, coercion and intimidation on all sides.