Myanmar: Global Unions denounce military junta elections

On International Democracy Day, Global Union Federations (GUFs), including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), condemn the Myanmar military junta's illegal and illegitimate elections scheduled for December 28.

Myanmar junta military soldiers parade during a ceremony to mark the country's Armed Forces Day in Naypyidaw on March 27, 2025. Credit: AFP

On the commemoration of International Democracy Day on September 15, the undersigned GUFs representing over 200 million workers worldwide have unequivocally condemned the Myanmar military junta's illegal and illegitimate elections scheduled for December 28. This is a dangerous mockery of democracy and a calculated ploy to entrench military rule.

The so-called electoral process is being conducted amid a systematic campaign of terror and repression against journalists, activists, human rights defenders, and civilians. Since the February 2021 coup, the junta has unleashed a brutal assault on its own people, with thousands killed, tens of thousands detained, and millions displaced. These are not the conditions for free, fair, or participatory elections. The junta's "roadmap" is paved with bloodshed and intimidation; it leads only to permanent authoritarianism.

As the IFJ has repeatedly affirmed, there can be no democracy without a free press. The junta has relentlessly targeted media workers, killing at least 11 and detaining over 220, as of August 2025. With 49 journalists still behind bars, silenced and charged with "false news" and other repressive laws, these elections are a deliberate farce. Holding a vote while journalists are imprisoned and independent media is banned is a fundamental contradiction of democratic principles.

We call on all governments to reject these sham elections and refuse to recognise their legitimacy, outcome, or structure. This is nothing but a tool to consolidate military power and obscure human rights abuses.

The junta's recent rebranding of its governing body from the 'State Administration Council' (SAC) to the 'State Security and Peace Commission' (SSPC) is also an attempt to evade international accountability. IFJ and its fellow GUFs urge governments and multilateral institutions to close this loophole and continue to enforce and monitor sanctions against the illegitimate regime. Any failure to do so will only embolden the junta and prolong the suffering of the people of Myanmar.

IFJ stands in solidarity with Myanmar's journalists, workers, and protectors of democracy, and condemns this fabricated electoral process.

Signatories:

• Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia-Pacific
• Education International (EI) Asia-Pacific
• IndustriALL
• International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF)
• International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Asia-Pacific
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)
• International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) Asia-Pacific Regional Office
• Public Services International (PSI) Asia-Pacific
• UNI Global Union Asia and Pacific

Read the full joint statement here