Voting has ended for the first phase of Myanmar’s controversial election, an exercise widely dismissed by critics as a “sham” amid the dissolution of major political parties, the jailing of opposition leaders, and an ongoing civil war that is expected to prevent large parts of the country from taking part.
The phased election, which will run over the next month, is being organised by Myanmar’s military government nearly five years after it seized power in a coup that sparked mass protests and escalated into nationwide conflict.
Analysts say the junta is attempting to legitimise its rule, with backing from China, as it looks for a way out of a prolonged and damaging political and military stalemate.
Authorities have charged more than 200 people under a new law for disrupting or opposing the election. The legislation carries severe penalties, including the possibility of the death sentence.
The first day of voting was marked by violence in several regions. Reports emerged of explosions and airstrikes as polls were underway on Sunday. In the Mandalay region, a rocket attack on an uninhabited house in the early hours injured three people, according to the region’s chief minister.
Separately, a series of explosions late on Saturday damaged more than 10 houses in Myawaddy township near the Thai border. A local resident told the BBC that one child was killed and three others were taken to hospital.
Despite the unrest and criticism surrounding the vote, some voters described the process as more tightly controlled than past elections.
“The experience of voting has changed a lot,” said Ma Su Zar Chi, a resident of the Mandalay region. “Before I voted, I was afraid. Now that I have voted, I feel relieved. I cast my ballot as someone who has tried their best for the country.”
First-time voter Ei Pyay Phyo Maung, 22, said she participated because she believed voting was a civic duty. “It is the responsibility of every citizen,” she said, adding that her hope was for economic relief, particularly for poorer communities struggling with rising prices.
“I want a president who provides equally for all people,” she said.
