Press Release: Phase (1) of General Election successfully concluded

In a democratic system, elections are of utmost importance. Citizens, as voters, must utilize their right to vote, a fundamental civic right to determine the nation's future direction.

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar successfully concluded Phase (1) of the Multi-Party Democratic General Election 2025 on December 28. During Phase (1) of the election, it was witnessed by all that voters across 102 townships nationwide went to polling stations from 6 AM until closing time, casting their votes in accordance with their free will and genuine preferences, without any coercion, and did so actively, in an orderly and dignified manner befitting citizens of a great nation.

While the Government and the people are choosing the democratic path, terrorist and disruptive insurgent groups persist in their adherence to violent ideologies. With malicious intent to sabotage the election such as preventing it from proceeding successfully in some areas, obstructing eligible voters from reaching polling stations, causing damage or destruction to opened polling stations, and instilling fear and panic among voters, these groups have engaged in direct or indirect acts of harassment.

These include firing homemade heavy weapons and improvised rocket launchers from a distance to cause disturbances, detonating acoustic mines as threats, blocking vehicles transporting voters to and from polling stations, sending threatening letters, dropping bombs via drones, conducting attacks using fixed-wing UAVs, and spreading false information.

Despite such interference and intimidation, voters across all 102 townships in Phase (1), who believe in the democratic system and have full confidence in and support for the Government's election management measures, overwhelmingly cast their votes of their own free will, leading to the successful execution of Phase (1) of the election.

Furthermore, during the pre-election period, terrorist and disruptive insurgent groups engaged in acts to damage and sabotage election-related processes. In 41 townships, they distributed, posted, mobilized, wrote inciting materials, hung pictorial posters, and used loudspeakers to urge people not to vote including through shouting, cursing, and using sound boxes/speakers.

They also destroyed, knocked down, or burned 23 instances of informational signboards and posters for successful election conduct. Additionally, they carried out 4 incidents of firing at and attacking election security personnel, 6 incidents of Drop Bomb attacks, 2 incidents of disruption using improvised acoustic mines, 6 incidents of attacks using hand grenades and improvised mines, 3 incidents of attacks using rocket launchers, 3 incidents of armed intimidation against government officials responsible for election duties and members of political parties contesting the election, and 6 incidents of abductions, totaling 54 incidents of interference, obstruction, and sabotage.

Terrorist and disruptive insurgent groups have employed various methods to carry out destructive acts aimed at preventing the success of the election process and undermining the solid establishment of the multi-party democratic system. Regardless of such efforts and the dissemination of false and defamatory reports by exiled and nation-wrecking media, the Government and the voter public, who support the multi-party democratic system, have successfully conducted Phase (1) of the Multi-Party Democratic General Election with freedom, fairness, transparency, and openness in the presence of international election observers, diplomats, media personnel, and the voters themselves.

Therefore, for the upcoming Phase (2) and Phase (3) of the election, the Government and responsible authorities in security and administration must intensify their efforts to ensure that voters' rights are not deprived and that they can cast their votes with full security and confidence. Additionally, responsible citizens who support democracy, desire national stability, peace, and development across the country, are urged to cooperate and collaborate with authorities by reporting any observed activities or suspicious matters related to terrorists, it’s stated.