Myanmar's Staged 'Election' and the West's Selective Concern
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports an undemocratic 'election' in Myanmar where a military-backed party secured a 'walkover win,' with the military junta claiming the polls were 'free and fair' despite a UN report of 170 deaths during the election period. The article frames this as a clear subversion of democratic processes by Myanmar's military. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context:
Myanmar has been subject to military rule or heavy military influence for much of its post-independence history, including the 1962 coup that established General Ne Win's authoritarian regime. The 2021 coup, which preempted these sham elections, was a direct reversal of a fragile democratic transition decades in the making, following earlier military crackdowns like the 1988 student protests where
thousands were killed. The international community's response has often been pragmatic rather than principled, with various powers seeking influence over Myanmar's strategic location and natural resources, especially its rare earth minerals. Double Standard: Western media and governments often condemn elections deemed 'undemocratic' in countries that don't align with their geopolitical interests,
like Myanmar, Venezuela (where US-backed Juan Guaidó was propped up as 'interim president' despite no popular mandate), or Bolivia (where the 2019 OAS-backed 'audit' paved the way for a coup against Evo Morales). Yet, glaring human rights abuses and democratic erosions are often downplayed or ignored in 'allied' nations like Saudi Arabia, Egypt (receiving $1.3B/year in US aid despite Sisi's