The United Nations has issued a stark report detailing significant civilian casualties during Myanmar's recent election period, highlighting a grim reality of military operations in the country.
UN Verification of Civilian Casualties
According to the UN rights office, credible sources have verified that at least 170 civilians were killed in approximately 408 military aerial attacks reported by open sources. These incidents occurred during the voting period, which spanned from December 2025 to January 2026. James Rodehaver, head of the UN rights office's Myanmar team, emphasized that the actual numbers might be higher due to challenges in data collection.
Challenges in Gathering Information
Speaking from Bangkok, Rodehaver explained to reporters in Geneva that the verification process covered a period from December to late last week, encompassing the election campaign and nearly all three phases of voting. He warned that "because of the way in which communications are cut off and because of, frankly, the fear of individuals in some of these locations to speak to us, it sometimes takes a lot longer to get that information." This underscores the difficulties in accurately assessing the full impact of the violence.
Global Outrage Over Myanmar's Elections
The UN's findings come amid widespread international condemnation of Myanmar's month-long vote, which democracy watchdogs have dismissed as a mere rebranding of army rule. This election follows five years after a coup that ousted popular democratic figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi, deepening the political crisis in the country.
UN Rights Chief's Statement
UN rights chief Volker Turk issued a statement on Friday, warning that "the profound and widespread despair inflicted on the people of Myanmar" since the 2021 coup "has only deepened with the recent election staged by the military." He pointed out that many people participated in or abstained from voting purely out of fear, which directly contradicts their internationally guaranteed civil and political rights and has ripple effects on their economic, social, and cultural rights.
Exclusion and Repression Under Military Rule
Turk highlighted that the conflict and insecurity continued unabated in large parts of Myanmar during the election period. Opposition candidates and some ethnic groups were systematically excluded from the process. His office noted that elections were held in only 263 of 330 townships, often exclusively in urban centres under military control, and were limited in conflict areas.
Impact on Displaced and Minority Populations
As a result, large segments of the population, especially the displaced and minorities such as the ethnic Rohingya, were effectively excluded from participating in the electoral process. This exclusion further marginalizes vulnerable groups and exacerbates existing tensions within the country.
Characterization of Military Rule
Turk decried that five years of military rule in Myanmar have been characterized by:
- Repression of political dissent
- Mass arbitrary arrests
- Arbitrary conscription
- Widespread surveillance
- Limitation of civic space
He stated, "Now, the military is seeking to entrench its rule-by-violence after forcing people to the ballot box. This couldn't be further from civilian rule." This condemnation underscores the international community's concerns over the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process in Myanmar.
The UN's report serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing human rights violations and political instability in Myanmar, calling for increased global attention and action to address these issues.
