Myanmar’s junta said it would hold “free and fair” multiparty elections as it marked Independence Day on Wednesday.
The junta, which recently wrapped up a series of closed-court trials of jailed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, is preparing for fresh elections later this year that the United States has said would be a “sham”.
Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, in a speech to mark Myanmar’s 75th Independence Day, told troops and supporters in Naypyidaw: “Upon accomplishing the provisions of the state of emergency, free and fair elections will be held in line with the 2008 constitution.”
The junta-imposed state of emergency is due to expire at the end of January, after which the constitution states authorities must set in motion plans to hold fresh elections.
The junta chief gave no timetable for any election.
The junta-appointed election commission was meeting with political parties for discussions on “the proportional representation electoral system”, Gen Min Aung Hlaing said, without giving further details.
Analysts say the junta may scrap the first-past-the-post system that saw Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy win sweeping majorities in 2020 and 2015.
Myanmar’s junta chief on Wednesday also lashed out at countries for intervening in his country’s affairs while thanking others for “positively” cooperating, noting how it was working closely with neighbours such as China, India and Thailand.
The South-east Asian country has faced international isolation and Western-led sanctions since the military seized power from a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Suu Kyi nearly two years ago.
“I want to say thank you to some international and regional countries and organisations and individuals who positively cooperated with us… in the midst of all the pressure, criticisms and attacks,” Gen Min Aung Hlaing said.
“We are closely working with neighbouring countries such as China, India, Thailand, Laos and Bangladesh. We will work together for border stability and development,” he said in the televised speech from the national day parade in the capital Naypyitaw.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent “sincere greetings” and anticipated the “further development” of relations, according to state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar.
Russia is a major ally and arms supplier of the isolated junta, which has said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine was “justified”.
Myanmar declared independence from British colonial rule on Jan 4, 1948, after a long fight championed by General Aung San, the father of ousted civilian leader Suu Kyi.
Independence Day is normally marked with festive street games, marches and gatherings in public parks and spaces.
But since the putsch, celebrations of public holidays have been largely muted as people stay at home in protest against the junta. (StraitsTimes)