Advancing Electoral Democracy in Asia
The junta will put ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi on a new trial on four charges of corruption beginning on Oct 1 in Naypyidaw, adding to the ongoing cases that could see her jailed for decades. The Special Court in Naypyidaw has set a date for the sentencing of three defendants,
Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG) declared on 7 September a people’s “defensive war” against the junta, calling on all citizens to “revolt against the rule of military terrorists led by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing in every corner of the country” and declared all of Myanmar to be under a state of
ASEAN's special envoy to Myanmar is in talks with the junta for his trip to Myanmar and seeking access to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He has proposed a 4-month ceasefire by all sides to enable the smooth delivery of the first batch of humanitarian assistance to the country. The National
The following is the August issue of ANFREL's Monthly Brief on Countries under Restrictive Environment that covers democracy and civil and political rights issues in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Hong Kong. Download here: Monthly Brief on Countries under Restrictive Environment - Series #5 (August 2021)
31 August 2021 | Press Release MANDALUYONG CITY (Aug. 31, 2021) — The National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) today, in a press briefing, outlined several proposals to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to improve the efficiency and transparency of the country's Automated Elections System (AES). The proposals are part of
The Myanmar Military is preparing to file another lawsuit against deposed President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has lodged a complaint with the police station in Naypyidaw's Zabu Thiri township alleging that the two leaders were involved in corruption over new land plots
Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government (NUG) Vice President Duwa Lashi La said the date for the start of fighting (“D Day”) has been decided and they are preparing to fight for the protection of the lives and property of citizens. The date will be submitted to the NUG cabinet for a decision.
The undersigned organizations express their concern about the rapidly unfolding developments occurring in Afghanistan, including the entrance of Taliban troops in the capital Kabul on 15 August in violation of their February 2020 agreement with the government of the United States of America, the exile of President Ashraf Ghani, and growing numbers
The National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG) said it welcomes ASEAN’s appointment of a special envoy to help resolve the country’s post-coup crisis. However, advocate group Justice for Myanmar released a statement warning that the appointment of Erywan Yusof as ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar was not suitable because Brunei's fully state-owned
As 8 August 2021 marked for Myanmar the 33rd anniversary of the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, a historic protest movement in which the cry for democracy of Myanmar’s people was heard around the world, activists around the country renewed calls to end military rule once and for all. The Association of Southeast Asian
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), the leading election monitoring group in Asia, is proud to launch its pilot media fellowship on election reporting for Southeast Asian journalists. The fellowship program seeks to equip journalists from independent news outlets and freelance journalists in empowering the electorate through crucial reporting of underrepresented
ANFREL member Transparency Maldives is calling for abstract submissions for the first issue of their new digest. Scheduled to be published in September 2021, the issue will be on "drivers and social problems that increase the vulnerabilities, especially of young people, and make them more susceptible to violent extremism and radicalization." Submissions
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
Today, in advance of the fifth anniversary of the unlawful killing of prominent political commentator and human rights defender Kem Ley, the 45 undersigned organizations reiterate their call for the Cambodian authorities to create an independent Commission of Inquiry tasked with conducting an independent, impartial and effective investigation into Kem Ley’s death.
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
Rights Groups Call for Decisive Action on International Day for Victims The Bangladesh government has failed to address widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment by its security forces, ten rights groups said on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The groups called on the United Nations and concerned governments
Dhaka/Geneva, 25 June 2021: Odhikar and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) remember and pay tribute to victims of torture and stand in solidarity with the victims and their families on the occasion of International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June). The institutionalised practice of custodial torture by the
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Sunday charged four members of the Mother Nature environmental movement with plotting an attack against the state and insulting the king, part of the targeted and outrageous persecution of frontline environmental defenders and grassroots activists by the government. Authorities should stop imprisoning and start listening to
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
