Myanmar’s military rulers announced Wednesday that overseas reporters can cover the December 28 election a move slammed as window dressing for a rigged contest.
The junta-controlled election body promised local and foreign media access, but approval rests with the regime.
The vote, staged in phases over weeks, skips rebel zones. It aims to cloak ongoing army rule in democratic garb, say watchdogs.
Media Under Siege Since Coup
The 2021 takeover crushed a vibrant press. Censorship, arrests, and threats forced most foreign outlets to flee.
AFP stands alone with a full bureau. Local reporters face jail or exile many now work from Thailand or resistance areas.
Myanmar ranks third globally for imprisoning journalists, per rights trackers. Independent coverage is nearly impossible.
“Free and Fair” Claim Rings Hollow
A Myanmar journalist told AFP anonymously:
“This invite just props up their fake fairness claim. We won’t risk working with them real reporting isn’t allowed.”
The election skips key regions, bans opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi (jailed since coup), and dissolved her party. Protesting the vote carries 10 years in prison.
Global Rejection Grows
ASEAN, the 11-nation bloc, will skip sending monitors, diplomats confirm. Rights groups urged the boycott to avoid lending credibility to a flawed process.
A Decade of Hope, Crushed
Myanmar’s press freedom bloomed in the 2010s under partial democracy. New papers and foreign bureaus thrived. The coup shut most down.
Now, state media pushes the junta line. Internet blackouts and spyware silence dissent.
What’s at Stake?
The election won’t end war rebels control half the country. It may extend military power while starving peace talks.
Can foreign eyes expose the truth? Or will the junta script the story?
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