Geneva: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned the recent military-imposed elections in Myanmar, highlighting their failure to respect fundamental human rights and their role in exacerbating violence and societal polarization.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Turk issued a statement from Geneva on the fifth anniversary of Myanmar's military coup, criticizing the junta for excluding large segments of the population, particularly displaced individuals, minorities such as the ethnic Rohingya, and opposition figures. The UN High Commissioner reported that 170 civilians were killed during approximately 408 airstrikes carried out by the armed forces during the voting period between December 2025 and January 2026. Additionally, a military strike on January 22 in a populated area in Bhamo town, Kachin State, resulted in the deaths of around 50 civilians.
Turk pointed out that the period under military rule has been characterized by political repression, arbitrary arrests, forced military recruitment, and extensive surveillance. He noted the military's mismanagement of Myanmar's economy, which has led to nearly a quarter of the population facing high levels of acute food insecurity and over a third in urgent humanitarian need. Turk expressed concern that the situation is likely to deteriorate further, emphasizing that Myanmar lost half a decade of peace and development after the military seized power from the democratically elected government. He urged the international community to intensify efforts to end the violence and find new ways to restore democracy and respect for all human rights.