GENEVA: The world should completely reject the end result of this weekend’s last spherical of “sham” elections in Myanmar, the United Nations’ particular rapporteur on the nation stated on Friday (Jan 23).
He and different democracy advocates say that with deposed democratic chief Aung San Suu Kyi sidelined and her massively standard occasion dissolved, the three-stage vote has been rigged by a crackdown on dissent and a poll stacked with army allies.
“The junta has orchestrated the election particularly to make sure a landslide by its political proxy,” stated Tom Andrews, the particular rapporteur on the scenario of human rights in Myanmar.
“It took no probabilities, banning credible opposition events, jailing standard political figures, muzzling the press, crushing elementary freedoms, and utilizing concern and coercion to drive a reluctant voters to the polls.”
In his assertion, the impartial skilled stated the junta hoped international locations would “settle for army rule dressed up in civilian clothes”.
“Governments should not enable that to occur,” he added.
Andrews, a former Democratic congressman in the USA, voiced hope Sunday’s last day of balloting would carry aid to Myanmar’s individuals.
That they had confronted election-related intimidation, threats, arrests and prolonged jail phrases in the event that they criticised the election or didn’t take part, he stated.
Voters had reported junta officers “pushing residents to polling stations at the same time as army jets bombed villages all through the nation”, he added.
