7 EAO (Ethnic Armed Organisations) Alliance, who have signed a ceasefire agreement, will neither endorse nor oppose the Junta-organised election, according to the alliance’s spokesperson, Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt.
The 7 EAO Alliance believe people should have the freedom to make their own decisions regarding the election.
“As the 7 EAO Alliance, we are not saying that we support this election, nor are we saying that we oppose it. Elections are a fundamental democratic right under a federal system. Therefore, we believe that the people who hold the true power in a democracy should be free to make their own decisions. Among the seven groups, we all share this understanding,” said Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt.
The 7 EAO Alliance is composed of the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), New Mon State Party (NMSP), Pa-O National Liberation Organisation (PNLO) led by Colonel Khun Okkar, Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), Lahu Democratic Union (LDU), Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), Karen National Union and Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC).
The Junta’s election will take place in two phases. Part one will begin on December 28th, 2025 and part two, on January 11th, 2026.
Resistance forces and the general public reject and oppose the Junta-organised election.
Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt added that political talks, which have long been stalled, could resume under the next government that emerges after the election.
“We don’t know what kind of government will come after the election. But if it’s a government that is not under military rule, there is a possibility that long-suspended political dialogue could resume,” he said.
The Junta-led election will continue despite major parties like the National League for Democracy (NLD) and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) being forced to dissolve. Roughly 57 political parties and 95 independent candidates, totalling approximately 5000 candidates, are expected to run in the election.
