Power and Protection in Asian Elections

There is a collective struggle to challenge power structures that shut out ordinary citizens and democracy in Asia. Elections monitoring groups are drawing a direct line between the concentration of political power and the rising danger they face as watchdogs.

Democratic watchdog organizations in Asia issued a joint letter urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to formally recognize and protect citizen election observers as Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) as observers face harassment, restrictions, intimidation, surveillance, and legal threats across the region. 

Meanwhile, local observers in the Philippines have also been involved in localized efforts to challenge the institutionalization of concentrated power. 

The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections criticized a recent national legislation meant to curb dynastic control in the Philippines. In a statement, NAMFREL called House Bill No. 8389 (the Anti-Political Dynasty Act) a “hollow victory that falls short of a genuine law.” 

While the Legal Network for Truthful Elections also mobilized to block regional regression in the south. In a statement, the group demanded that the Bangsamoro Parliament reject two recently filed bills seeking to strip the region’s electoral and local governance codes of their anti-dynasty provisions. 

Protecting citizen observers as defenders of human rights and dismantling frameworks that shield monopolies are not separate battles, they are two fronts of the same struggle. Only by securing both can the region ensure that elections remain not just events, but true expressions of the people’s will.

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

• [Bangladesh] Odhikar issued a human rights statement evaluating the severe vulnerabilities, poor institutional conditions, and systemic lack of support faced by women within the national prison system, 21 May 2026.
• [Malaysia] BERSIH is looking for monitoring volunteers for the upcoming 16th Johor Negeri Hall General Election. Volunteers can check all requirements and instructions here.
• [Maldives] Transparency Maldives organized a Migrant Workers’ Wellbeing Camp in Thilafushi on International Labour Day.
• [Philippines] LENTE conducts consultations with reform partners for inclusive BARMM Parliamentary Elections, 25-26 May 2026.
• [Sri Lanka] PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said in an interview with News1st criticized the delay in holding provincial elections as fundamentally a political issue rather than a technical one.

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