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Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition

October 1, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma ReleasesBombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition 1st October 2025 For Immediate Release Today, the Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) releases its latest briefing paper, Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition, which calls for the condemnation and immediate rejection of the […]

Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition Exposing the junta’s campaign of terror to stage a sham election

October 1, 2025/in Briefing Papers, ND-Burma's Reports

Exposing the junta’s campaign of terror to stage a sham election As the junta continues to illegally and unjustly expand their military through forced conscription, the upcoming 2025 sham election is yet another calculated attempt by the junta to bolster its legitimacy. Civil society organizations have widely condemned these efforts, describing them as ‘political theatre’[1] […]

Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition

October 1, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition Exposing the junta’s campaign of terror to stage a sham election

October 1, 2025/in Briefing Papers, ND-Burma's Reports

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Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition

October 1, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases
Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition

1^st October 2025

For Immediate Release

Today, the Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) releases its latest briefing paper, Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition, which calls for the condemnation and immediate rejection of the election plans proposed by the Burmese military junta. Burma’s future of political and federal democracy faces significant threats. Ongoing preventable deaths mirror the military’s brutal history, while an election—expected to be a sham with violent suppression of opposition—is unavoidable.

Civil society organizations have warned election monitors to pay close attention, as moving forward could lead to even more troubling times. Analysts and election monitors have also cited the election as a ‘sham’ and warned that the lead-up and aftermath will be marred by violence. The election plans pose life-threatening risks to civilians as the junta aggressively attempts to regain lost territories through airstrikes, drones, and shelling.

“The sham election is the latest illegal and unjust attempt by the military junta to claim its misplaced legitimacy. The people of Burma have been clear — they do not accept the junta as any legitimate ruler, and they do not accept any process filled with corrupt tactics to guarantee a biased victory. The sham election effort must be widely condemned and rejected by all international stakeholders. This is not due process, and this is certainly not democracy,” said Nai Aue Mon, Program Director at the Human Rights Foundation of Monland.

Worryingly, the junta has begun weaponizing the rule of law and leveraging its forced conscription efforts to silence dissent and employ violent tactics to coerce civilians into supporting the election. Several people have already been apprehended and charged under the recently reformed draconian election law. Against the backdrop of the junta’s latest selfish bid for legitimacy, attacks have escalated in ethnic areas, particularly those where the regime is desperate to regain lost territories.

Furthermore, ND-Burma calls for strategic and meaningful efforts to continue supporting the initiatives set forth by revolutionaries and rights-based groups, as well as the National Unity Government, in condemning the junta and actively countering and disengaging from the junta’s propaganda. International human rights organizations and businesses working in Burma must also extend their support to pro-democracy groups, including emerging federal bodies.

Local organizations working on the ground in Burma have earned the trust and credibility of their communities and can attest to the junta’s mockery of legal and justice systems. The regime merits neither recognition nor credibility.

For more information:

Name: Nai Aue Mon

Signal: +66 86 1679 741

Name: San Htoi

Signal: +66 649369070

_____________________________________________________________________________

The Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) comprises 13 organizations representing a diverse range of ethnic nationalities, women, and former political prisoners. Since 2004, ND-Burma member organizations have been documenting human rights abuses and advocating for justice on behalf of victims. The network has ten full members and three affiliate members.

Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition Exposing the junta’s campaign of terror to stage a sham election

October 1, 2025/in Briefing Papers, ND-Burma's Reports

Exposing the junta’s campaign of terror to stage a sham election

As the junta continues to illegally and unjustly expand their military through forced conscription, the upcoming 2025 sham election is yet another calculated attempt by the junta to bolster its legitimacy. Civil society organizations have widely condemned these efforts, describing them as ‘political theatre’^[1] and ‘laughable.’^[2] Analysts and election monitors have cited the election as a ‘sham’ and have warned that the lead-up and aftermath of the election will be plagued with violence.^[3] Burma Campaign UK noted that the election is simply the junta’s latest attempt to ‘rebrand, renew, and try to convince the people of Burma and the international community that reforms are finally happening.’^[4] In reality, the sham election plans pose life-threatening risks to civilians as the junta aggressively tries to regain lost territories through airstrikes, drones, and shelling.

While the junta rushes to compile voting lists and demonstrate voting machines, conflict persists across the region, with millions in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Regional leaders, including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are being consistently advised not to be misled by the junta’s tactics but to instead support the revolutionary movement on the ground, led by local stakeholders and grassroots leaders.

Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing violence amid the junta’s relentless assaults. The military attacks are intensifying as the election approaches, with the junta trying to reclaim territories and bases lost to the armed resistance. While the regime has announced its planned areas to hold elections in 102 townships on 28 December,^[5] ethnic resistance and armed groups largely control much of the indicated territory, including in Shan and Rakhine States.^[6] The junta has also announced that polls will only be held in 172 of the 228 eligible townships nationwide at unspecified dates in January 2026.^[7] Burma has a total of 330 townships in which conflict has been active in 70% of them.^[8]

The constituencies cover 56 townships nationwide where the regime’s administrative and security structures have broken down.^[9] With 57 registered political parties, only six will participate in the election, as four parties have been dissolved for allegedly failing to meet the junta’s voting criteria. ^[10] On 14 September, the junta stated that it wouldn’t hold elections for three parliaments in 10 of the 14 townships in Rakhine, which is controlled by the Arakan Army.^[11] This has led to further concerns over implementation and the validity of any ballots cast amid the ongoing turmoil, including daily airstrikes on displaced communities by the junta.

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ND Burma

ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

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The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma ReleasesBombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition

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The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases
Bombs to Ballots: Myanmar Junta’s Bloody Race for Recognition