CNI News
16 September 2025
The election is a matter only for political parties and has nothing to do with armed organizations, said Colonel Khun Okkar, Chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO-NCA/S), speaking to CNI News.
He added that some armed groups became extreme in their opposition to the election.
“Elections are not related to armed groups. Elections are only related to political parties. It is the political parties that will contest. In Kachin as well, there are Kachin political parties. If they can participate in their own way, then this could become a step towards reform. But KNU’s Brigade 6 said it will oppose the election. They will oppose those who participate, and they will oppose the political parties competing as well. That’s an example of how opposition to the election could become extreme.”, he said.
For the upcoming first phase of the election on December 28, groups such as the KNU, AA, KNPP, Naga PDF, and other armed revolutionary organizations have already declared their rejection and opposition. The NUG has also urged opposition.
Political parties and the UEC
The Karen National Union (KNU), which holds a very strong opposition stance on the election, was designated as an illegal association and a terrorist organization on August 28, 2025.
However, some armed groups have not made public statements that they will oppose or disrupt elections led by Acting President Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
These groups include the KIA, RCSS, SSPP, and TNLA. Up to this point, they have not openly opposed the elections.
The KIA has only said it will not allow ballot boxes in areas under its control, while the TNLA stated in August that it has not yet commented on whether parties will be allowed to campaign or elections will be conducted in TNLA-controlled territories.
Observers in the peace process told CNI News that by not explicitly opposing the elections, these groups may be hoping that, once parliament is formed, they could have opportunities to push for the laws they want.
The NUG
“Elections are for political parties. Armed groups (EAOs or EROs) have no part in that. But on the other hand, they see that if elections are held, there will be MPs in parliament. Once there are MPs, laws will be enacted. With laws being made, they will need to maintain proper relations with everyone to push for the laws they want. Why? Because they’ve had experience before. Since 2010, when elections were held, they remained quiet, but later when laws were passed in parliament, some laws contradicted their local laws in their areas. Since their laws were only local, the national laws overruled them. So, this time, they may stay neutral, and if parliament is formed, they will be able to engage and argue for the laws they want.” said U Khun Sai who is involved in the peace process, told CNI News.
Currently, the Myanmar Tatmadaw has announced that the first phase of elections will be held in 102 townships, and offensives are ongoing to recapture areas they have lost.
