Civicus, a global civil society alliance, calls on Asean and the international community to step up and do more to resolve the human rights crisis in Myanmar as well as reject the sham election results.
Five years after the 1 February 2021 coup, there has been a serious failure to take effective action to deter the ongoing repression of activists in the country and attacks on civilians by the junta, and to restore democracy and civilian rule.
Over the last five years, the Civicus Monitor has documented a systematic assault on civic space by the junta.
Thousands of human rights defenders and activists are detained on fabricated charges of ‘incitement’ or ‘terrorism’ and sentenced to lengthy prison terms after unfair trials. Many activists have experienced torture and ill-treatment in detention leading, in some cases, to deaths in custody, with no one held to account.
The junta has also targeted journalists and media outlets and imposed restrictions on internet access, internet shutdowns and online censorship.
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It has also targeted civilian populations with air strikes, artillery bombardments and other forms of violence and committed widespread abuses against the Rohingya community with impunity.
While several UN member states have spoken up and imposed sanctions on the junta and associated enterprises, there has been a lack of political will by Asean leaders to act. The five-point consensus agreement among Asean leaders in Jakarta in April 2021 to address the Myanmar crisis has seen no tangible progress.
“Asean member states – especially the Philippines which is chairing the group – must exert more effort to implement the five-point consensus and go beyond it, including pushing for the end to the severe repression of activists, journalists and civilians in Myanmar,” said Rajavelu Karunanithi, the advocacy and campaigns officer for Asia at Civicus.
“It must speak up and act – together with the international community – to end serious human rights violations, release political prisoners and push for justice and accountability.”
The junta held elections in three phases since December 2025 which civil society groups have called a sham. There was an effort by the military to ensure victory for the junta’s proxy party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party. Major opposition parties have been barred from participating, democratic leaders are jailed and an ongoing civil war kept many from voting.
In July 2025, the junta imposed harsh new penalties for protesting against its planned election, with critics potentially facing years in prison for dissent. Since then, more than 300 people have been charged.
Autocratic countries like Russia, Belarus and China have expressed support for the junta’s election as well as Asean members Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.
The junta’s information blockade continued to impose severe restrictions on civilians, including international reporters that covered the sham polls.
“The junta’s sham elections are a desperate bid for legitimacy. It is therefore essential that the international community outright reject this façade of an election and instead engage with the civilian government and civil society, cut off weapons and funds to the junta and bring them before the International Criminal Court for the serious crimes they have committed,” added Karunanithi.
Myanmar’s civic space is rated as ‘closed’ by the Civicus Monitor – Civicus
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
