by Hafizur Rahman
Arakan State | December 28, 2025
Myanmar’s military junta went ahead with its planned election on Sunday despite widespread public distrust, ongoing armed conflict, and severe restrictions on political freedoms across the country. Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing and spokesperson Zaw Min Tun cast their votes, but critics say the process lacks legitimacy and cannot be considered a genuine democratic exercise.
Political parties opposed to the junta, resistance groups, and civil society organisations have repeatedly rejected the election, arguing that it is being held in the middle of war, mass displacement, and widespread repression. Many say the vote is designed to create an image of legitimacy while the country remains deeply unstable.
In Arakan State, residents say the situation is no different. Communities continue to live under fear, travel restrictions, and insecurity, yet authorities are still pushing people to participate in the election. Locals say the environment is neither safe nor free, and that people have little real choice.
Observers say instead of paving a path toward democracy, the election appears aimed at consolidating military control at a time when large parts of the country remain outside the junta’s authority.
Voices from Rohingya Communities
Rohingya residents in camps and villages shared their reactions with Rohingya Khobor, expressing frustration and disbelief over the election process.
Ro Anamul Hasan said most civilians do not accept the military junta as a legitimate government and questioned why people would participate in an election without real opposition parties.
Mohammed Yasin, a camp resident, said fear and fighting have stripped the vote of meaning. He said people are living under pressure and without full rights, adding that the process does not resemble democracy.
Amina Khatun, a Rohingya mother from Sittwe, said soldiers control daily life, making free voting impossible. She said the election does not represent the voices of ordinary people living under conflict and restrictions.
Salah Uddin, a young Rohingya student, described the election as a performance rather than a genuine vote. He said there is no trust, fairness, or safety, and that peace should come before any election.
Inside a Polling Station
One Rohingya voter who participated in the election shared his experience with Rohingya Khobor, describing an atmosphere of pressure rather than choice.
“I myself voted for USDP,” he said. “We voted today in Myanmar. Our polling station was in a Buddhist assembly hall. There were a few military personnel, police, an immigration officer, firefighters, and Red Cross members present.”
He said polling stations were set up in different locations, including schools, where his brothers in law and other relatives went to vote.
According to him, many people were afraid not to participate. Before entering polling stations, voters were asked to sign attendance sheets, which residents believe could later be used to track who did not vote.
“They asked us whether we belong to any ethnic group,” he said. “One immigration officer replied no on our behalf because she knows us. In reality, my wife belongs to the Kaman ethnic group, but there is no representative for Kaman ethnic affairs minister.”
He explained that for ethnic affairs minister positions, each ethnic group is required to vote to nominate their own minister, but some communities are left without representation.
A Country Far from Democratic Normalcy
For many inside Myanmar, including Rohingya communities, the election has not brought hope. Instead, it has highlighted a country still trapped in conflict, fear, and political uncertainty. Residents say without security, rights, and freedom, voting becomes an obligation enforced through pressure rather than a democratic choice.
As fighting continues and trust in state institutions remains shattered, many see the election not as a step forward, but as another reminder of how far Myanmar remains from the democratic future its people have long sought.
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