Myanmar election’s second phase starts

Myanmar's highly anticipated second phase of elections opened this morning, despite growing apprehensions among democracy watchdogs that the military will extend its grip on power under a civilian veneer. Polling stations across the country will be open until noon local time, with voters casting ballots for members of the lower and upper houses of parliament.

In the first phase of elections held last month, the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) secured nearly 90% of the seats in the lower house, raising concerns that the military-backed party will maintain its stranglehold on power. The USDP has been criticized for suppressing dissent and limiting press freedom during its tenure, with many fearing a continuation of authoritarian rule.

The stakes are particularly high for Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD), which swept to power in 2015 following decades of military rule. The NLD won a landslide victory in the first phase of elections last month, but faces an uphill battle against the entrenched interests of the USDP and the military.

Democracy advocates are also worried that the election will be marred by violence and intimidation, with reports of threats and harassment against political opposition members and journalists. International observers have been denied access to polling stations, raising concerns about the transparency and credibility of the process.

Nevertheless, Aung San Suu Kyi has urged her supporters not to give up hope and to exercise their democratic right to vote. The outcome of today's elections will be closely watched by international observers as a key indicator of Myanmar's commitment to transitioning toward democracy and civilian rule

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.