In Bangladesh, two years after the July Uprising, Bangladesh's democratic transition has entered a decisive implementation phase. While the July National Charter continues to provide a shared framework for constitutional and institutional reform, political consensus on how those reforms should be implemented has begun to erode. Constitutional disagreements, the evolving role of
In June 2026, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and South Korea presented divergent but interlinked pictures of democratic governance under stress. In Bangladesh, the central democratic challenge during the post election period spread to be the growing gap between ambitious post-July reform commitments and their practical implementation. Nearly two years after the 2024 July
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) underscores the significance for Myanmar and the broader region of the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit taking place in Cebu, Philippines this week. As the Myanmar military authorities continue efforts to seek legitimacy following the military coup in 2021 and the subsequent illegitimate elections staged in December
‘Old Generals, New Clothes: The Myanmar Junta’s Illegitimate 2025-26 Elections and the Way Forward’ is a joint report by the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M). The report scrutinises the military junta’s staged “elections” – conducted over three phases in December 2025 and January
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) are launching a paper titled "Old Generals, New Clothes: The Myanmar Junta's Illegitimate 2025-26 Elections and the Way Forward" in an online discussion this Friday, 10 April 2026 at 10 a.m. Bangkok time. The paper provides a
https://youtube.com/live/p_W_0JlCuTs?feature=share Myanmar’s military junta completed the first and second phases of its planned elections on 28 December 2025 and 11 January 2026, respectively. These phases form a central part of the junta’s effort to project political normalization following the 2021 coup. However, both phases were conducted amid ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement,
https://youtube.com/live/RkylEhvE4wg?feature=share The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched in 2025 the third iteration of its media fellowship program on reporting elections focused on the Myanmar Junta's staged elections. Since the military staged a coup in 2021 after the 2020 general election, the Myanmar junta is organizing elections in three phases: (1)
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has closely monitored developments surrounding the Myanmar military junta’s preparations for elections scheduled to begin tomorrow, 28 December 2025. Based on prevailing political, security, and human rights conditions, ANFREL assesses that the environment in which these elections are being organized fails to meet minimum requirements
Nearly five years after the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s generals are pushing ahead with multi-phase elections under the 2008 military-drafted constitution. ANFREL’s assessment report, Myanmar Junta’s Planned Elections: Falling Short of Democratic Legitimacy (September 2025), concluded that these polls will unfold amid widespread violence, mass displacement, and the systematic denial of basic freedoms,
By Tarushi Aswani India’s policy toward Myanmar is shaped by a combination of geography, security dependence and economic interests that do not always align. For Rohingya refugees in India, that means an uncertain life. New Delhi: Mohammed Salim is watching a video of Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing shaking hands with
By Nathaphob Sungkate On 28 December, Myanmar will be holding its first general election since the February 2021 military coup. The election has been called a sham and a tool for the junta to maintain control, and many Myanmar migrants in Thailand are refusing to participate in it. Nevertheless, some have expressed
https://www.youtube.com/live/mUTVAwnKHx0?si=ZWC_boZQSHeoEgMo Amid the repressive electoral and political environment, the Myanmar military junta is proceeding with its planned elections in three phases later this year and early in 2026. With the current situation, ANFREL did not seek accreditation or engage with the junta-controlled election commission in Myanmar despite its previous efforts to support
Following the assessment report on the Myanmar junta's planned elections, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched a mini video series explaining why the junta-planned elections cannot be considered legitimate, credible, and free and fair. The #LetMeExplain series focused on three key aspects of the electoral environment that strongly indicate how
In October 2025, ANFREL continued to observe significant political and electoral developments across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, ahead of the 13th National Elections scheduled for February 2026, twenty-two political parties endorsed the July National Charter 2025 on 17 October 2025, following an extensive process of dialogue facilitated by the National
2025 October 24, Bangkok, Thailand. As ASEAN leaders gather for the 47th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits to deliberate on pressing regional and global challenges, including the worsening crisis in Myanmar, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) strongly opposes the Myanmar junta-planned election. This electoral exercise, scheduled to begin on 28
In September 2025, notable political and electoral developments took place across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, the National Consensus Commission continued to struggle to secure agreement among political parties on the July charter ahead of the upcoming elections, while the Election Commission pressed forward with its preparations. Along the Cambodia–Thailand border,
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) launched its assessment report on the Myanmar junta's upcoming planned elections, 30 September 2025. The report "Myanmar Junta's Planned Elections: Falling Short of Democratic Legitimacy" outlines 15 aspects of the electoral process which demonstrate that "the elections staged by the junta in Myanmar do not
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) in launching on 30 September 2025 the findings of its assessment of the upcoming junta-planned elections in Myanmar. The review is an independent undertaking of election-related developments in Myanmar, based on extensive monitoring and dozens of consultations with diverse stakeholders. The Myanmar military staged a
In August 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar witnessed significant political and electoral developments. The Election Commission intensified preparations for the upcoming general elections by introducing a new electoral roadmap. Meanwhile, in Myanmar, the military junta pushed forward with plans for its first election since the 2021 coup, introducing amendments to the electoral
In July 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar experienced a series of significant political and electoral developments, with notable election-related activity in Bangladesh and Myanmar. Bangladesh is preparing for its first national elections since the 2024 uprising, while Myanmar’s military junta is advancing plans for its first election since the 2021 coup. In
https://www.youtube.com/live/uzq6Xw7fPk8?feature=shared The military junta in Myanmar that staged a coup in 2021 after the 2020 general election is pushing to hold elections in the country by the end of 2025. In this episode of The Election Observer, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) invited . In this episode of "The Election
The military junta in Myanmar has been preparing to hold elections years after the military staged a coup in 2021. In Season 2 Episode 3 of The Election Observer podcast, the Asian Network for Free Elections will unpack the junta's planned elections in Myanmar with Progressive Voice chairperson Khin Ohmar. Catch the
In June 2025, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar witnessed a series of significant political and electoral developments. Bangladesh’s political landscape was marked by continued dialogue under the National Consensus Commission, with key debates over election timing, reform implementation, and party strategies. Tensions rose as Jamaat-e-Islami boycotted the second round’s opening session, while the
In May 2025, the political landscapes in Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar were marked by escalating tensions, deepening repression, and shrinking civic space. In Bangladesh, the struggle over national election time intensified with pressure on the Interim Government from both political parties and civil society. The chief advisor’s threat to resign underscored the
The April 2025 edition of the Resilience Watch Report highlights key democratic developments and resilience efforts across Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Myanmar. In Bangladesh, political consultations and electoral reforms gained momentum as the country moves toward its next national elections. Cambodia saw continued civic engagement and discussions around digital freedoms, while Myanmar's pro-democracy
This monthly brief provides updates on the state of democracy, elections, civic space, and media freedom in selected Asian countries and territories experiencing restrictive environments. "Resilience Watch" is part of ANFREL’s broader campaign and advocacy efforts aimed at informing the public and relevant stakeholders about the human rights and democracy situation in
Overview Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been engulfed in persistent resistance, with young people playing a critical role in mass protests, the civil disobedience movement, and armed uprisings against the junta. The military has responded with brutal crackdowns, employing airstrikes, arbitrary arrests, internet shutdowns, and extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent.
View this joint statement in Myanmar. We, the undersigned organizations specializing in election observation, electoral and democracy assistance, committed to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation advocating for genuine and credible elections, unequivocally reject plans by Myanmar’s illegal military junta, the State Administrative Council (SAC), to hold a so-called ‘election’
Download the open letter here: Open Letter: 413 Civil Society Call on Timor-Leste to Retract Invitation to Illegal 'Myanmar Election Agency' His Excellency Dr. Jose Ramos-HortaPresidentDemocratic Republic of Timor-Leste Open Letter: 413 civil society call on Timor-Leste to retract invitation to illegal “Myanmar Election Agency” 7 April 2023 Dear Mr. President: The
Media Statement30 March 2023 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) strongly condemns the Myanmar junta’s mass dissolution of political parties in Myanmar, including the National League for Democracy (NLD), which has been at the forefront of democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. The move by the junta is another blatant