Fortifying Democratic Resistance in Asia

Members of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) have pushed back against legislations that pose potential threat to democratic values. Electoral integrity advocates continued to engage in democracy’s defense.

In Sri Lanka, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) targeted proposed revisions to the 2023 Anti-Corruption Act. 

In the Maldives, Transparency Maldives (TM) mounted a campaign against amendments to the Decentralization Act that threaten to strip authority from local councils, framing the centralization of power as a direct threat to local democratic self-governance.

Meanwhile, pushing to follow the electoral calendar in the Philippines, Philippines-based ANFREL members Legal Network For Truthful Elections (LENTE), National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) participated in legislative hearings in both Philippine House of Representatives and Senate to oppose propositions which sought to postpone the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) set to happen in November 2026.

In Bangladesh, human rights organization Odhikar raised concerns on the Prevention and Remedies for Enforced Disappearance Act of 2026, which was approved by the Cabinet on 3 August 2026.

In Malaysia, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) issued a firm warning against the misuse of government resources and sentiment of hatred in election campaigns demanding urgent legislative action. 

These interventions in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Malaysia reflect a broader, coordinated effort by civil society to utilize legislative hearings, public campaigns, and direct dialogue to maintain institutional checks and balances across the region.

Here are the programs and activities that ANFREL members implemented and conducted in August 2026:

• [Indonesia] JPPR West Kalimantan questioned the urgency and institutional rationale behind proposed electoral constituency redistricting, urging election management bodies to ensure transparent data and public consensus before altering electoral boundaries, 14 August 2026.
• [Myanmar] New Myanmar Foundation (NMF) issued a statement calling for the immediate, unconditional release of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Myanmar, emphasizing that restrictive humanitarian visits and selective photo releases by the military junta cannot replace genuine political legitimacy, transparency, or democratic freedom, 4 August 2026.
• [Sri Lanka] CMEV stressed the urgency of Sri Lanka’s decade-long delayed Provincial Council elections, calling for a clear roadmap to hold elections and restore democratic representation at the provincial level, 11 August 2026.

Know more about the programs and activities that ANFREL members implemented and conducted in the August issue of the ANFREL Members Roundup. Subscribe here to get the latest updates!