New Delhi, Dec 28: The first of three phases of Myanmar’s voting took place on Sunday in an election widely dismissed by critics as illegitimate, with major political parties dissolved, senior leaders jailed, and large parts of the country unable to participate because of ongoing civil war.
BBC reported that the military government is conducting the ballot in phases nearly five years after seizing power in a coup that triggered mass protests and escalated into nationwide armed conflict. Observers say the junta, backed by China, is seeking to legitimise and entrench its rule amid a prolonged political and military stalemate.
Authorities have charged more than 200 people under a new election law for opposing or disrupting the polls, with penalties that include lengthy prison terms and the death sentence. Voting began amid reports of violence.
Explosions were reported in at least two regions. In the Mandalay region, three people were taken to hospital after a rocket struck an uninhabited house in the early hours of Sunday, leaving one person in serious condition.
In Myawaddy township near the Thai border, a series of blasts late on Saturday damaged more than ten houses. Local residents reported that a child was killed and three others were critically injured.
Despite the unrest, some voters described the polling process as more tightly controlled than in previous elections.
