Dozens of Myanmar citizens voted early at Bangkok embassy as junta holds phased polls dismissed by opponents as a sham to cement military rule.
BANGKOK: Dozens of Myanmar citizens cast early ballots at their country’s embassy here on Saturday.
The voting is part of a phased election widely criticised by deposed lawmakers and human rights groups.
Myanmar’s military, which seized power in a 2021 coup, promises the polls will steer the nation toward peace and democracy.
The country has been plunged into a multi-sided civil war since the takeover.
In-person voting in Myanmar is scheduled to begin in some areas in late December.
Early voting for citizens abroad has started at several embassies, including in Hong Kong, Singapore, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
A heavy police presence was visible at the Bangkok embassy on Saturday morning.
AFP journalists saw approximately 25 people register to vote within the first two hours.
Several voters declined to comment when approached.
Thailand’s labour ministry records about half a million documented Myanmar nationals in the capital.
The International Organization for Migration estimates 4.1 million Myanmar nationals reside in Thailand overall.
Many have fled the ongoing conflict and lack official documentation.
Embassy officials told AFP they did not know how many people had completed the required voting registration.
The registration deadline was October 15.
Opponents of the junta have dismissed the election as a sham designed to disguise continued military rule.
Critics include deposed lawmakers excluded from the vote, human rights monitors, and rebel groups.
Ahead of the polls, the military government introduced sweeping new legislation.
The laws include clauses that punish protesting or criticising the election with up to 10 years in prison.
