Myanmar Junta Holds Elections Amidst Conflict and Boycott

Myanmar’s military government began voting on Sunday in an election it says will bring "stability." The polls are for a small number of seats in the national and regional parliaments. The election is being held in parts of the country controlled by the army. Major opposition groups, including the ousted government of Aung San Suu Kyi, are boycotting it. They call the vote illegitimate. The military, known as the junta, seized power in a 2021 coup. Since then, the country has been in a state of civil war. Several ethnic armies and pro-democracy fighters are challenging the regime's control. Analysts say the election is an attempt by the junta to appear legitimate. The vote is for only a fraction of the available parliamentary seats. The military-drafted constitution already guarantees it control of key government ministries and 25% of all parliamentary seats. International observers have dismissed the process. Major Western nations have imposed sanctions on the junta for human rights abuses since the coup. Voting is expected to continue in some areas for two weeks. The results are not predicted to change the military's hold on power.