CNI News

22 February 2025

It was necessary to have stability in the entire country so that a free and fair general election could be held, said chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC).

He said the above in the letter sent to the 77th Anniversary Celebration of Chin National Day that fell on 20th February 2025.

"The SAC is emphatically carrying out to become a respectable and accurate election that is free from injustices such as threats to all voters, coercion and group bullying. Peace and stability are needed in the entire country so that a free and fair general election can be held." said chairman of the SAC Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

While the MNDAA has captured the Northeast Command of the Myanmar Tatmadaw

Only when armed conflict ended, could free and fair elections be held, he said. Fierce battles are taking place between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and armed groups in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region, Mandalay Region, Ayeyarwady Region, Shan State, Chin State, Kachin State, Karen State, Kayah State, Rakhine State, and Mon State. 

During these battles, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has lost control of several hundred military camps including the Northeast Command and the West Command as well as over 90 townships.

Due to these battles, there are over three million IDPs and many thousands of houses and buildings were burnt down. So, military and political analysts are questioning how to achieve peace and stability throughout the country.

While seeing political parties and the SAC chairman

" Because he said peace and stability are needed in the entire country to hold the election, does he mean the election won't be held unless there is peace and stability? Does he mean elections will be held regionally, but not in the entire country? Or does he express that there are difficulties to hold the election because he has no intention of holding the election? they are food for thought." said a politician.

Although Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing announced that a general election would be held in August 2023, because armed conflicts became widespread throughout the country, he extended the state of emergency for another six months under Section. 425 of the 2008 constitution, saying it was an abnormal period.

Although he promised again that the election would be held in 2025 without fail, he has not expressed the exact date when the election will be held.

However, those close to the SAC said that the SAC could stop the extension of the state of emergency and announce the election date; the election could be held in October or November or December 2025 and a transfer of power could take place in April 2026.