Protests against junta-organised election intensify in resistance-held areas

By Admin 02 Sep 2025

DMG Newsroom

2 September 2025, Kalay, Sagaing

Protests by revolutionary forces and the public against the elections planned by Myanmar's military regime are intensifying across the country.

Public protests against the junta's planned elections were held in Salingyi, Yinmabin, and Kalay townships in Sagaing Region on August 31.

Protests and demonstrations by the public against the junta-organised election are also ongoing in Mandalay, Magway, and Tanintharyi regions.

"We support the revolution because we cannot accept the military's atrocities. We will not accept the junta's planned elections. We will resist anything that will keep the military in power," said a local man in Salingyi.

The Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF) has reported sporadic fighting since the military regime announced the election date.

MSRF and the Ye People's Defence Force (YPDF) arrested four education staff employees who were going to attend an election training course on the Thanbyuzayat-Ye highway in Mon State on August 14 and released them on a pledge not to participate in the election.

Brigade 6 under the Karen National Union in Dooplaya District also issued statements of opposition to the election on August 30.

The statement said that individuals, religious leaders, civil society organisations, NGOs and INGOs under the control of Brigade 6 under the Karen National Union in Dooplaya District, are urged to refrain from supporting or participating in the military regime's election, either individually or collectively.

The statement stated that any organisation or individual who fails to comply with the announcement will be subject to action under Kawthoolei Law.

"If the election were to take place, there is a possibility that the political goals of the revolutionary forces would change. Therefore, I think it is absolutely necessary for the revolutionary forces to obstruct the junta's planned election," said a young Karen man in Yangon.

The anti-regime forces under the National Unity Government and the Northern Alliance, including the Kachin Independence Army, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force and Chin National Front, have also issued statements rejecting the junta's election and urging the public not to participate.

"The military regime is trying to intimidate the people in the areas it controls and force them to vote. Since this is a sham election, it is absolutely certain that the military regime will change the results as it sees fit," said a young political analyst.

The military regime has announced that phase 1 of the elections will be held in 102 townships in December, and has enacted a law that could punish those who disrupt the elections with imprisonment or even the death penalty.