Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule

The bloc should encourage Indonesia’s approach of engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis, observers say

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An official of the Union Election Commission displays a ballot for counting during the second phase of the general election at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:30pm, 15 Jan 2026Updated: 6:36pm, 15 Jan 2026

With Myanmar in the throes of an election widely expected to return its military junta to power, calls have renewed for Asean to rethink its approach of not engaging the regime.

The region, observers warn, should also brace itself for the “very real possibility” that half of Southeast Asia might eventually recognise the results of Myanmar’s election and by extension the ruling junta.

On Sunday, Myanmar began its second round of voting in the country’s first general election since the military usurped power in 2021 from the legitimate government headed by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Voting expanded to additional townships including some areas affected by the civil war between the government and its armed opponents.

The country’s main pro-military party on Monday claimed victory in the parliamentary seat of Suu Kyi, with the junta declaring that the polls would return power to the people.

An official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) said they “won in Kawhmu”, Suu Kyi’s former seat in Yangon region.

Volunteers and electoral officials collect ballots from an electronic voting machine after closing the second phase of the general election at a polling station in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday. Photo: EPA

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Asean urged to rethink stance as Myanmar election risks normalising junta rule

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The bloc should encourage Indonesia’s approach of engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis, observers say

The bloc should encourage Indonesia’s approach of engaging key stakeholders in efforts to resolve the Myanmar crisis, observers say