BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military regime has intensified its pre-election crackdown by charging over 200 individuals with violating the country’s stringent voting legislation ahead of this month’s controversial general election. The charges represent the latest escalation in the junta’s systematic suppression of political dissent surrounding the polls.
According to state-run Myanma Alinn newspaper, Home Affairs Minister Lt.-Gen. Tun Tun Naung disclosed during a Tuesday meeting that authorities had identified and taken action against 229 people—201 men and 28 women—across 140 separate cases involving alleged attempts to sabotage the electoral process. The report provided minimal details regarding the identities of those charged or their current detention status.
The controversial election law, enacted in July under military rule, imposes severe penalties including imprisonment terms ranging from three to ten years for activities deemed disruptive to the electoral process. More serious offenses carry potential death sentences, creating an atmosphere of intense political repression.
Among those publicly identified in state media are prominent activists Tayzar San, Nan Lin, and Htet Myat Aung, who organized a December 3 protest in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. The demonstration called for public rejection of the elections, abolition of military conscription laws, and release of political prisoners.
The General Strike Coordination Body, a leading non-violent opposition organization, reported Wednesday that security forces arrested Htet Myat Aung in Mandalay and allegedly subjected him to abuse during detention. The organization expressed grave concerns about his imminent safety, though The Associated Press could not independently verify his condition.
Those charged span diverse segments of society, including filmmakers, actors, comedians, children, members of pro-democracy militias (People’s Defense Forces), and representatives from ethnic armed groups engaged in conflict with the military. Most face accusations of destroying campaign materials, threatening election personnel, or posting critical comments on social media platforms. Local media outlets, including Myanmar Now, report that some defendants have received prison sentences extending up to 49 years.
The military government spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, stated during a Sunday briefing that international approval of the election process remains irrelevant to the junta’s objectives. “Those who want to criticize can do so,” Zaw Min Tun declared. “We will continue to pursue our original objective of returning to a multi-party democratic system.”
The election faces widespread criticism for excluding Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), which was forcibly disbanded in 2023 despite achieving landslide victories in both the 2015 and 2020 elections. The military justified its 2021 takeover by alleging electoral irregularities in the 2020 polls, though independent observers found no substantive evidence supporting these claims.
Suu Kyi, now 80, remains imprisoned under a 27-year sentence following convictions in multiple politically motivated cases. Recent reports expressing concerns about her health were dismissed by military authorities on Tuesday, who maintain she remains in good condition.