GENEVA, Jan 30 (KUNA) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk Friday condemned the recent military-imposed elections, which failed to respect the fundamental human rights of the countryآ’s citizens and that the process served only to exacerbate violence and societal polarization.
In a statement issued from Geneva coinciding with the fifth anniversary of the military coup in Myanmare, Turk said that the junta had excluded large segments of the population especially the displaced and minorities such as the ethnic Rohingya and opposition figures.
The UN High Commissioner confirmed that 170 civilians were killed during approximately 408 airstrikes carried out by the armed forces reported during the voting period between December 2025 and January 2026, in addition to a military strike on 22 January in a populated area in (Bhamo) town (Kachin) State which caused the deaths of around 50 civilians.
Turk emphasized that military rule has been marked in the past period by political repression, arbitrary arrests, forced military recruitment and extensive surveillance.
"The militaryآ’s usurpation of power has also been accompanied by disastrous mismanagement of the countryآ’s economy," he added. "Almost a quarter of the population is now faced with high levels of acute food insecurity, and over a third are in urgent humanitarian need. I fear this is only set to deteriorate further." He stressed, "After the military grabbed power from the democratically elected government Myanmar lost half a decade of peace and development", adding that "the profound and widespread despair inflicted on the people of Myanmar has only deepened with the recent election staged by the military." Turk called on the international community to intensify efforts to end the violence and to find new ways to restore democracy and respect all human rights. (end) imk.mt