Myanmar junta chief casts vote in election

Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing voted in the heavily guarded capital city of Naypyitaw on Sunday (December 28).

Dressed in civilian clothes, Min Aung Hlaing held up an ink-soaked little finger, smiling widely to reporters after casting his vote, according to footage aired by Myanmar state television MRTV.

Voters must dip a finger into indelible ink after casting a ballot to ensure they don't vote more than once.

“We guarantee that this will be a free and fair election,” the junta chief said, speaking at the polling station.

Following the initial phase on Sunday, two further rounds of voting are scheduled for January 11 and January 25, covering 265 of Myanmar’s 330 townships, although the junta does not have full control of all those areas as fighting has continued since the 2021 coup.

Nevertheless, the election has been derided by critics - including the United Nations, some Western countries and human rights groups - as an exercise that is not free, fair or credible, with anti-junta political parties not competing.

-Reuters