Curtains, Please

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Myanmar’s military government dissolved the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi this week, a move that comes as the junta prepares for general elections more than two years after a coup that ousted the civilian leader, Bloomberg reported.

The country’s election commission said the National League for Democracy (NLD) was among 40 other parties that failed to register to compete in elections scheduled for August.

Under a new law passed by the junta earlier this year, political organizations must apply for registration to participate in the polls within 60 days – the deadline was Tuesday. Failure to do so results in the automatic disqualification of a party from an election and its dissolution.

So far, 63 parties – including 50 existing ones – have submitted the application.

NLD representatives, however, said they are boycotting the elections and demanded the release of their leaders, including Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint.

The dissolution comes as the junta attempts to stabilize Myanmar following a February 2021 coup that ousted Suu Kyi and the democratically-elected government. Military officials said the takeover was necessary because of alleged fraud in the November 2020 election, in which the NLD secured more than 80 percent of seats in parliament.

Since then, the junta has faced mass popular protests, armed ethnic groups and a faltering economy. The tense security situation in the country has made it difficult for officials to set a specific date for the elections.

Meanwhile, the United Nations and Western nations have criticized the planned polls as a “sham.”