– We support Myanmar in achieving political reconciliation within the framework of the constitution and resuming the process of democratic transition through elections, Wang said at a regional meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Friday.
Earlier this week, Yi met junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, after which the junta reported that the two had had frank discussions about “free elections with multiple parties”.
USA critical
The junta has promised to hold elections, but has repeatedly postponed the plans. Now the plan is to hold elections next year after holding a nationwide census.
The US has made it clear that an election organized by the junta will have zero legitimacy. Analysts predict that it will worsen the bloody conflict raging in several parts of the country.
Myanmar had experienced several years of quasi-democracy when the junta seized power in February 2021. It happened a few months after the party that the junta hoped would win the elections in autumn 2020 suffered a resounding defeat.
Suu Kyi’s party banned
Last year, the party of peace prize winner and democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi was banned. It was this party – the National League for Democracy – that won the 2020 election overwhelmingly.
Suu Kyi is still imprisoned along with a number of other activists and elected politicians. Others have gone into exile, where they have formed their own exile government.
The junta cracked down hard on the large demonstrations that broke out after the coup, and today battles are raging between government forces and armed resistance groups in a number of provinces.
The junta’s opponents have also taken control of large areas, including at the border with China.
#China #elections #Myanmar
2024-08-17 04:32:23
