Part 5/10:
Myanmar’s military (called the Tatmadaw) appears to have benefited from ASEAN’s relatively moderate stance. It has maintained its position by declining to engage meaningfully, asserting that ASEAN should not interfere in internal affairs.
This stance, coupled with ASEAN’s limited actions, has inadvertently provided the junta with a form of impunity. They have effectively used ASEAN’s mechanisms to buy time, avoid accountability, and consolidate control.
The Prospect of Elections and Democratic Legitimacy
A recurring issue is the prospect of upcoming elections in Myanmar. Most experts agree that elections under current conditions—marked by violence, repression, and the imprisonment of political leaders—would be sham elections that lack legitimacy.