Conflict and fear sap election energy in Myanmar

Myanmar heads to the polls tomorrow as it battles a civil war that has ravaged parts of the country as well as one of Asia's worst humanitarian crises. People pass by Myanmar flags hanging outside a screen printing shop in Yangon A man walks past signboards of the People's Pioneer Party (PPP) in Yangon Already one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, Myanmar has been hammered by a conflict triggered by a 2021 coup in which the military ousted an elected civilian government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. Campaigning has been shorn of the energy of previous polls, residents said, as well as wide criticism that it is a sham to help the junta perpetuate power. Myanmar has been in the throes of a nationwide conflict since the military deposed Ms San Suu Kyi four years ago, alleging poll fraud in a general election held the preceding year. Although the junta insists the election has popular backing, the vote has been widely criticised by the United Nations, Western governments and human rights groups as an attempt by the military to entrench its rule through political proxies. Three residents of Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon, parts of which will vote tomorrow, said they remember past campaigns being rife with activity, including lively rallies, noisy road shows and large gatherings. "This time, the candidates did not really come out on the streets. I only see sign boards on the streets about them," said a 31-year-old from Yangon, who asked not to be named because of security concerns. "I am someone who goes out the whole day, but I don't see any candidates campaigning, even for USDP and for smaller parties," he added, referring to the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party. After the first phase on Sunday, the military-led administration will hold two more on 11 January and 25 January, covering areas across 265 of Myanmar's 330 townships. Dates for counting votes and announcing the results have not been declared. A decade ago, when Myanmar held its second election since the end of five decades of military rule in 2011, streets were awash with sign boards and flags in the signature red of Ms Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), creating a carnival-like atmosphere. Even the 2020 election, subdued by Covid-19 restrictions, had a more visible campaign, four people said. In the city of Mandalay, about 600km (370 miles) north of Yangon, the lack of campaigning is palpable, with no sustained canvassing for votes just days ahead of the polls, two residents said. "The only real activity is the setting up of campaign billboards," 36-year-old Nwe said, adding that the few rallies being held were under guard. "When parties campaign in neighborhoods, they don't go alone," she said, "They travel in groups with security." The USDP, led by former generals from Myanmar's armed forces known as the Tatmadaw, has the most visible campaign presence on the streets, all five voters said. Polling under fear The United Nations said...

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