CNI News
28 August 2025
A democratic government will only emerge when a free and fair multi-party democratic election can be held, said Vice Chairman of the National Security and Peace Commission, Vice Senior General Soe Win.
He made the remark on August 26, 2025, during the ceremony honoring outstanding students who excelled in the 2024–2025 academic year university entrance examination.
“Only if a dignified, free, and fair multi-party democratic election can be held, will a parliament with dignity and people’s representatives chosen by the majority of the people come into existence. A democratic government will then emerge, and such a government will be able to successfully advance toward the democratic goals we aspire to. It is therefore crucial that all our people and organizations understand this.” said Vice Senior General Soe Win.
Statement released by the KNU
He continued that while the government and the public are working positively toward holding elections, there are also organizations and individuals attempting to disrupt and sabotage them. He said such actions are obstructions that aim to prevent the country’s development.
The Union Election Commission has announced that the election will be held in Phase (1) across 102 townships on December 28, 2025.
However, some armed groups, the National Unity Government (NUG), the People’s Defense Forces (PDF), and pro-democracy activists have declared that they will sabotage the election.
The Karen National Union (KNU), which is engaged in armed conflict with the Myanmar Tatmadaw, also announced on August 26, 2025, that it will oppose the election, considering it a national duty.
Some NUG leaders
The KNU said the military’s effort to hold the election is merely a cover to avoid implementing ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus. According to the KNU, it will be a sham election designed to benefit the military and its allied parties. The group added that political parties taking part in such a sham election would only obstruct the future building of a new federal democratic system.
Similarly, PDFs fighting against the Myanmar Tatmadaw also declared that they will take action against anyone who participates in the military-organized election.
On February 1, 2021, the Myanmar Tatmadaw seized power from the NLD government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, claiming that the NLD attempted to form a government without resolving alleged voter list fraud in the 2020 general election. The Tatmadaw then declared a state of emergency.
Following this, NLD leaders, members of parliament, armed groups, democracy activists, and some political parties opposed and resisted the coup, and later attempted to overthrow the military regime through armed struggle.
Under these circumstances, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has declared that it will hold elections and transfer state power to the political party that wins.
