Myanmar’s military government called on its armed opponents to abandon “terrorism” and participate in a general election scheduled for next year, marking its first outreach to rivals since the 2021 coup, Reuters reports.
The military urged the People’s Defence Forces (PDFs) and ethnic rebel groups to transition from armed conflict to political engagement. However, the proposal was quickly rejected by the PDFs and the National Unity Government, who claimed the junta had no authority to conduct legitimate elections. The proposed election has been widely criticized as a sham, particularly after the disbandment of numerous parties, including the National League for Democracy, which was ousted during the coup.
The military, which seized power in 2021 after claiming election fraud, has faced ongoing resistance in a civil war that has erupted across the country following the arrest of many politicians, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now serving 27 years in prison.