Govt, public ensure 2025 multiparty democratic general election despite disruptions

THE government leads the phases of a multiparty demo­cratic general election, which is essential for initiating the multiparty democratic system, with participation of the people, while striving to ensure a peace­ful, prosperous and developed country under the multiparty democratic system. The gov­ernment successfully held the multiparty democratic general election regardless of the dis­ruption of the insurgents.

The Phase I of the multipar­ty democratic general election was held on 28 December 2025, in 102 townships, while Phase II was held on 11 January 2026, in 100 townships, and Phase III was held on 25 January 2026, in 61 townships. During these elec­tions, voters were seen casting their ballots actively, peacefully, and voluntarily, from 6 am un­til the close of polling stations, freely expressing their own will without any form of pressure, and fulfilling their civic duty as responsible citizens.

Terrorist and destructive groups are employing various methods in an attempt to en­sure the failure of the multiparty democratic general election pro­cess, which represents the path toward a multiparty democratic system desired by the people, to undermine national stability and peace, to delay the nation-build­ing and development processes being jointly implemented by the government and the people, and to damage election-related activities. They have committed bomb attacks using sound mines, improvised explosive devices, and drop bombs, issued threat letters, and spread false prop­aganda and fabricated reports through malicious and exile me­dia outlets, among other acts of sabotage.

Beginning from the pre-elec­tion period, they have committed destructive actions in 41 town­ships, such as they distributed and posted false propaganda pamphlets in public places, conducted agitation and incite­ment, wrote false messages, displayed posters, shouted slo­gans and insults to discourage voting, used sound boxes and speakers to incite people not to vote, destroyed, toppled, or burned public awareness sign­boards and posters promoting successful elections for 23 times, attacked election security guard members for four times, dropped bombs for six times, detonated homemade sound bombs for two times, carried out six bomb and mine attacks using grenades, launched three rocket attacks, threatened election-related gov­ernment officials and members of political parties with weapons for three times, and abducted individuals for six times, totalling 54 acts of destructive actions.

Moreover, on 28 December 2025 during the Phase I elec­tion, they exploded sound mine at polling station 82 at No 11 BEHS in Shwenyaungpin Ward of Myitkyina, Kachin State, com­mitted bomb attacks using 107 mm rockets into Shwe Taung and Mingalar wards of Loikaw of Kayah State, exploded bomb near KBZ Bank in No 3 ward and Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge II in Myawady of Kayin State, attacked Taninthayi region government using a fixed wing drone, blocked the way of 170 palm oil workers who are head­ing to polling station to vote in Aung Chan Thar village-tract of Khamaukgyi, dropped bombs us­ing drones near polling station 2 in No 3 ward of Shwebo, attacked Nationalities Youth Resource Development Degree College (Sagaing) using six homemade rockets, dropped bomb near polling station 3 in Tamu, and attacked using heavy and small weapons from the north and south of Katha in Sagaing Re­gion.

Moreover, they also attacked Nantawkyun village in Madaya Township and Aungmyaythazan Township using 107 mm rockets in Mandalay Region, dropped bombs near the general admin­istrative office, court and central prison lane in Myingyan Town­ship and opened fire against polling station 64 BEPS (Pyun) in Zone 9 of NyaungU. Between 27 and 28 December evenings, they committed crimes in 11 townships out of 102 townships of Phase I, and about five locals were wounded.

During the Phase II election on 11 January 2026, they also dropped bombs using drones in Prusho, Kayah State, set fire to the administrator’s house in Taungthonlon Village, Kangyi Village-tract, Kyunsu Town­ship, Taninthayi Region, and attacked Gangaw, Seikphyu, Salin, and Kanma in Magway Region using fixed-wing drones, rockets, bombs, and small arms. In addition, homemade rockets were launched, and bombs were dropped in ChaungU, Butalin, and Myinmu in Sagaing Region, while using drones to drop bomb attacks in Htantabin Township, Bago Region. They committed such attacks in 10 townships out of 100 townships of the Phase II election, and two governmental staff members died, two staff members and one local were injured.

On 25 January 2026, when the multiparty democratic general election phase III was held, terrorist groups carried out bomb attacks in Phakant and bridge of Nantyar village in Kachin State, dropped bombs on the Launglon Myoma police station in Taninthayi Region, Kani and Salingyi townships in Sagaing Region, attacked the Minkin gas pipeline and Yonsi­gyi village in Taungtha, BEHS (Htantaw) in Mahlaing, govern­mental offices and Lalthit village in Myingyan Township, Manda­lay Region, using FPV suicide drones, sound mines, heavy and small weapons, dropped bombs in Nyaungpintha village in Phyu Township, Thamininngon village in Kyaukdaga Township, Nyaung­chayhtauk village in Zeyawady and Yedashe Township in Bago Region. They committed attacks in 11 townships out of 61 constit­uencies for Phase III, and one local was injured.

Terrorist and destructive groups are employing various methods in an attempt to ensure the failure of the multiparty dem­ocratic general election process, which represents the path to­wards a multiparty democratic system desired by the people, to undermine national stability and peace, to delay the nation-build­ing and development processes being jointly implemented by the government and the people, and to damage election-related activities. Beginning from the pre-election period, although they committed various destruc­tive actions, the people who un­derstand the peace process and development programmes of the government cast their votes for the party representatives they preferred.

In the general election that began on 28 December 2025, there were a total of 24.22 mil­lion eligible voters. A total of 57 political parties competed na­tionwide, including six parties contesting across the entire Un­ion and 51 parties contesting in regions and states. The election was successfully held in 263 out of 330 townships in the presence of international election observ­ers, diplomats, media represent­atives, and enthusiastic voters, in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

To continue advancing the multiparty democratic system through prudent and measured means, responsible citizens who support and welcome democracy and who desire national peace and stability, as well as the im­provement of the people’s social well-being, are urged to cooper­ate with the relevant authorities to ensure the multiparty demo­cratic system. Hence, the people are also requested to promptly report to the relevant authori­ties any information on terrorist activities or suspicious matters they may encounter. — MNA/ KTZH