Seventeen international human rights organizations today denounced the Thai government’s newly announced Regulation No. 29, which empowers the authorities to censor online expression, and investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for communications that may “instigate fear”. The Regulation is the government’s latest attack on the right to freedom of expression and information in
The Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, staged a military coup on 1 February 2021, just before the new parliament elected through the 2020 General Elections was to convene. The coup triggered mass nationwide protests and a civil disobedience movement, causing over 900 people being killed and thousands being detained to date. On the
The junta-appointed election commission of Myanmar has officially nullified the results of the November 2020 general elections, claiming there was widespread fraud. The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) issued a statement that people's power is elected by the people, who are the original owners of sovereignty, and it cannot be annulled by
The largest gathering of electoral stakeholders in Asia is going online. The Asian Electoral Stakeholder Forum 5 (AESF 5), co-hosted by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB), will take place on 20-21 October 2021. AESF brings together key electoral stakeholders in Asia and
ANFREL started publishing the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment in April 2021 to provide an insight into the human rights and democracy situation in these countries. This brief covers issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. Download here: Monthly
Demonstrations were held across Myanmar on the public Martyr’s Day holiday to commemorate slain independence heroes, including the father of the country's detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta excluded Suu Kyi from the annual Martyrs’ Day observances honoring her father, Gen. Aung San, and other heroes who led Myanmar to
Myanmar detained State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and former Naypyitaw Council Chairman Dr. Myo Aung appeared at a special court in Naypyitaw’s Zabuthiri township for their trial for incitement under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code. The junta filed fresh charges against Suu Kyi, bringing the
As part of our commitment to the promotion of free and fair elections in Sri Lanka, the Asian Network for Free Elections submitted a set of recommendations to the Select Committee of Parliament on Electoral Reform. The call for proposals is a welcome development that would help strengthen and make more inclusive
The junta’s special court in Naypyitaw on 6 July rejected objections by the defense team of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the introduction of prosecution evidence against her on a sedition charge with the argument that it failed to follow established judicial procedure. Former Rakhine State Chief Minister U
ANFREL continues its efforts to support the people of Myanmar in their struggle for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar amid the seizure of power from the civilian government by the military in February 2021. On 17 May 2021, ANFREL released the final comprehensive report of their international election observation mission to
Myanmar ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in the special court in Naypyitaw on 29 June and the court accepted the two evidence documents submitted by the junta for the case charged under Section 505(b) to incite unrest in the country although the lawyers of Aung San Suu Kyi objected. Those
ANFREL published its June issue of the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment. As usual, the brief covers issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Hong Kong in the past month. Download here: Monthly Brief on Countries under Restrictive Environment - Series #3 (June
Ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in trial on 21 and 22 June. One of her lawyers said that there is no evidence to support the charges against her and he added that the defendant is “not guilty of any of these accusations''. The court will issue an interim order
Nearly five months after the coup, the junta has begun the trial of the leaders of NLD. Ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi appeared in a special court in Naypyitaw on 14 June to hear three cases for possession of illegally imported walkie-talkies, violations of the Telecommunications Law and Natural Disaster
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting a webinar about inclusive political dialogue for a new Myanmar on 22 June 2021, at 5:30 p.m. (Bangkok time). From the protest actions in different parts of the country, the people of Myanmar are trying to regain freedom through their continuous resistance. Several
Hong Kong passed new electoral amendments on 27 May 2021 which supposedly aim to improve the electoral system in the territory. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) put together this set of infographics to show the changes which could effectively bar candidates from the pro-democracy camp from running in the upcoming
As the situation in Myanmar becomes more violent, the international community needs to intervene and help restore democracy in the country or things will get worse, ANFREL program officer Tharindu Abeyrathna said in a new online show GNDEM Talk hosted by Ukraine-based group Civil Network OPORA. The show puts a spotlight on
Myanmar’s ousted State Councilor, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi faced her second in-person court hearing on 7 June in Naypyitaw that court announced the charges filed against her will finish within 180 days. Media also reported on Thursday the junta charged her under the anti-corruption law, bringing to seven the number of
The National Unity Government (NUG) held its very first press conference on Friday 4 June. The junta shut down the internet between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m to disrupt that press conference being held by the parallel government. The NUG said that it will announce a national D-Day to fight the military
ANFREL started publishing the monthly brief on the countries under a restrictive environment in April 2021 to provide an insight into the human rights and democracy situation in these countries. In this issue, we will cover issues related to elections and civil and political rights in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Hong Kong.
The protests continued in different parts of Myanmar despite the crackdown by the junta. The clashes between the junta forces and the civil resistance fighters or Ethnic Armed Organizations also emerged in several places in Myanmar, such as in Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Shan, Sagaing and Yangon States/Regions. The Karen Peace Support
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2020 Myanmar general elections and said “it is its informed opinion that the results of the 2020 general elections were, by and large, representative of the will of the people of Myanmar”.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) hosted a session in the 2021 Gwangju Democracy Forum about “Democracy under Restrictive Environment” on 19 May 2021. The session discussed the state of democracy, challenges and threats in the Asian countries that saw democratic regression in Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Panelists of
One hundred days after the coup, the junta has pushed the region’s fastest-growing economy into an economic and humanitarian disaster. The World Bank forecast shows that Myanmar's economy is expected to contract by 10% in 2021, a sharp difference from the previous prediction of 5.9% growth in October 2020. There is a
*UPDATE: The preregistration form is now closed. Please visit the Gwangju Democracy Forum website to know more how you can participate in the session. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting the session “Democracy under Restrictive Environment” in the 2021 Gwangju Democracy Forum (GDF) on 19 May 2021, 10 a.m.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is launching the final comprehensive report of its international election observation mission to the 2020 Myanmar General Elections, on 17 May 2021 at 10 a.m. (Bangkok time). Considered only the second democratic elections, Myanmar held general elections on 8 November 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pro-democracy protests continued across the country in different townships despite the continuing lethal attacks by the junta forces and arrested of protests and the youth. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) figures showed that as of 9 May, 780 people have been killed by the junta, 3,826 are currently under
On 30 June 2020, China unilaterally passed a sweeping National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong. What are the main issues with the NSL? How will it affect elections? ANFREL produced this set of infographics to present key issues with the NSL and how it affects freedoms in Hong Kong.
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its new book on the media’s reporting of elections in Asia on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2021 through an online discussion forum. The book “Media Reporting of Elections in Asia: Issues, Challenges and Lessons” gathers the experience of journalists in Cambodia, Hong
The pro-democracy protests continued across the country while the Myanmar community outside of the country also conducted the protests in places such as London, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo and Seoul. The protests started again in Yangon last week just before the ASEAN summit after a few weeks of absence. Some flashmobs were also
