Junta Stages Election? Call It 'Democracy Promotion'
Myanmar's military junta, which seized power in 2021, plans new elections after five years of civil conflict, an event widely expected to legitimize its rule. Interestingly, similar electoral farces in countries not aligned with Western interests often trigger immediate condemnation and sanctions. Yet, when a brutal regime, say, in the Middle East, maintains power through highly questionable
'elections' and violent suppression—while purchasing billions in US arms (like Egypt, receiving $1.3 billion yearly from the US despite its abysmal human rights record)—the language often shifts to 'stability' and 'strategic partnerships.' One might wonder if the 'democratic' standard applied to Myanmar changes when the country isn't strategically vital or, heaven forbid, purchasing American
F-35s. The hypocrisy is, as ever, a matter of geography and geopolitical convenience.