Myanmar's Military Election on Dec 28 Dismissed as a 'Comedy Show' by Exiles

It’s an election with no real choice. As Myanmar's military junta prepares to hold a vote this Sunday, December 28, those who fled its rule are calling the poll a farce designed to legitimize a coup. For many exiles, like tattoo artist Ng La living in Thailand's border town of Mae Sot, the election is "just like a comedy show," he told Al Jazeera.

A 'Sham' Election Lacking Credibility

The military seized power in a February 2021 coup, claiming widespread fraud in the 2020 election won by Aung San Suu Kyi'sNational League for Democracy (NLD) party. This upcoming vote is widely seen as an attempt to create a veneer of legitimacy. However, international observers are unconvinced. The United Nations special rapporteur Tom Andrews has labeled the election a "sham," stating it cannot be free or fair while political leaders are detained and basic freedoms are crushed. The hugely popular NLD is barred from registering, and artists and filmmakers critical of the election have reportedly been arrested.

From Protestors to Fighters to Exiles

Ng La (28), a punk enthusiast from Yangon, joined street protests before fleeing to the jungle to fight with the People’s Defence Force (PDF). After heavy clashes in February 2022, he was forced to cross into Thailand. His story is echoed by others like Snow (33), a former English teacher who also joined the resistance. The coup "destroyed all our hopes and dreams," she said. Now in Mae Sot, she views the election as nothing more than giving the military "a licence to kill our people."

A Precarious Life Across the Border

The UN estimates that approximately 3.5 million people have been internally displaced in Myanmar since the coup, with hundreds of thousands fleeing to neighboring countries. According to Human Rights Watch, undocumented migrants like Ng La face a "constant threat of harassment, arrest, and deportation" in Thailand. Many are too afraid to leave their accommodation, fearing they could be sent back to face forced conscription, imprisonment, or worse.