(Photo: ASEAN)

We, the undersigned trade unions, civil society, and human rights organisations from across the ASEAN region and international community, issue this urgent and unequivocal call to our governments ahead of the upcoming ASEAN Summit: outrightly reject the Myanmar military junta’s planned sham election. Anything less would be a betrayal of the people of Myanmar and a stain on the conscience of our entire region.

The junta’s planned election on 28 December 2025 is an illegal, cynical ploy to manufacture a façade of legitimacy for its rule of terror. This is the same military that defied the people’s landslide verdict in 1990 and staged the fraudulent 2010 polls to disguise dictatorship as reform. To believe its promises now is to wilfully disregard history.

A genuine election cannot take place amid mass killings and repression. It is a charade held under the barrel of a gun. The junta has waged war on its own people, killing over 7,300 civilians, arbitrarily detaining more than 29,000, and displacing over 3.5 million. It has outlawed legitimate political parties, imprisoned and tortured democratic leaders, and enacted draconian electoral laws that impose the death penalty for dissent. As the UN Special Rapporteur stated, this is not an election, but a "fraud." In fact, this process has nothing to do with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus; it is a unilateral act of a murderous junta that will only exacerbate the conflict.

The international democratic community has taken a firm stand. The European Union has refused to send observers, calling the poll a "regime-sponsored" exercise with only one possible outcome. In Bangkok, parliamentarians from Ireland, the United States, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and New Zealand reaffirmed their unified rejection of the junta’s so-called election and called for global solidarity with Myanmar’s democracy movement. Respected electoral monitoring bodies, including International IDEA and ANFREL, have unequivocally rejected the junta’s planned election and called it falling short of democratic legitimacy. ASEAN cannot afford to isolate itself by becoming an enabler of this farce.

To grant any form of recognition to this process is to give the junta a green light for more atrocities. This is a regime that bombs villages on holy days and launches airstrikes in the aftermath of earthquakes. Endorsing its electoral charade will only prolong the suffering of millions and add legitimacy to the weapons and aviation fuel it uses to terrorise civilians.

ASEAN member states have a profound moral and international obligation to act. The historic ILO Resolution under Article 33, adopted in June 2025, explicitly calls on all governments to "review... the relations they may have with Myanmar military authorities" to ensure they do not "enable, facilitate or prolong" these gross violations. Likewise, UN Security Council Resolution 2669 and ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus demand an immediate end to violence. Failure to reject this election would render ASEAN complicit in the junta's crimes against humanity.

The world is watching. ASEAN’s credibility—and its future as a community founded on peace, democracy, and human rights—is at stake. We therefore demand that our leaders issue a clear, firm, and unified statement rejecting the junta’s sham election and refusing to recognise its outcome. There must be no room for vague diplomatic language that the junta can manipulate for its propaganda.

We call specifically on Malaysia, as the 2025 ASEAN Chair, and on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, to demonstrate moral leadership. As a lifelong champion of free and fair elections who has personally endured political persecution, his voice must be the loudest and consistent in upholding democratic values, not just in Malaysia, but across our region.

This is a call for moral clarity, a call to stand on the right side of history.

We urge all governments, institutions, and organisations of conscience to:

UNEQUIVOCALLY REJECT the Myanmar junta’s sham election.
REFUSE to send observers or provide any form of technical or political support.
STAND FIRMLY in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their legitimate democratic representatives.

Endorsed by:

Regional / International Organisations

1. Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) – Asia Pacific

2. Education International (EI) – Asia Pacific

3. IndustriALL – Southeast Asia

4. International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF) – Asia Pacific

5. International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) – Asia Pacific

6. International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) – Asia Pacific

7. International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) – Asia Pacific

8. International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) – Asia Pacific

9. Public Services International (PSI) – Asia Pacific

10. UNI Global Union – Asia Pacific

11. Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA

12. ASEAN Services Employers Trade Union Council (ASETUC)

13. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)

14. Asia Democracy Network (ADN)

15. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

16. Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)

17. Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)

18. Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA)

19. Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia

20. Milk Tea Alliance Friends of Myanmar

21. Campaign for a New Myanmar

22. Burma Campaign UK

23. International Campaign for the Rohingya

24. MilkTeaAlliance Calendar Team

25. Info Birmanie

26. Italia-Birmania.Insieme

ASEAN Member States

Malaysia (2025 ASEAN Chair):

27. Sabah Timber Industry Employees’ Union (STIEU)
28. Union of Forestry Employees’ Union (UFES)
29. Malay Forestry Officers’ Union (MFOU)
30. Kesatuan Pekerja-Pekerja Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor
31. National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers Malaysia (NUTEAIW)
32. Sabah Plantation Industries Employees Union (SPIEU)
33. National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE)
34. Sarawak Bank Employees’ Union
35. Malayan Nurses Union
36. Electronic Industry Employees' Union Western Region Peninsula Malaysia
37. National Union of Journalists – Peninsula Malaysia (NUJM)
38. BERSIH – The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections
39. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
40. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM)
41. IKRAM Malaysia
42. Greater Equitable Measures (GEM)
43. Gindol Initiative for Civil Society Borneo
44. Pride In Research
45. Tenaganita
46. North South Initiative (NSI)
47. HAYAT
48. MANDIRI
49. Initiative to Promote Tolerance and Prevent Violence (INITIATE.MY)
50. PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out!
51. Beyond Borders Malaysia
52. Aliran
53. The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall – Civil Rights Committee (KLSCAH-CRC)
54. The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall – Youth Committee (KLSCAH Youth)
55. G25 Malaysia
56. Persatuan Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya (Martabat PJ)
57. Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)
58. Society for the Promotion of Human Rights
59. PUSAT KOMAS
60. To Earth with Love
61. Kachin State Civilian Movement
62. All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
63. Kachin Refugee Learning Centre
64. Muslim Aid Malaysia
65. Rohingya Society in Malaysia (RSM)
66. University of Malaya Association for New Youth (UMANY)
67. Suara Mahasiswa University Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
68. Gerakan Anak Muda Pantai Timur (GEMPUR)
69. Federasi Pemuda Kebangsaan
70. Ikatan Anak Muda Tawau (IKAT)
71. Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia
72. SIS Forum (Malaysia)

Myanmar:

73. Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar (CTUM)
74. Building and Wood Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (BWFM)
75. Agriculture and Farmer Federation of Myanmar (AFFM)
76. Industrial Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (IWFM)
77. Food Workers’ Federation of Myanmar (FWFM)
78. Energy Unions Federation of Myanmar (EUFM)
79. Myanmar Railway Workers Union Federation (MRWUF)
80. Myanmar Employer Organization (MEO)
81. Myanmar Labour Alliance (MLA)
82. Progressive Voice (PV)
83. Blood Brotherhood
84. OWetlet (Youth Organization)
85. New Rehmonnya Federated Force (NRFF)
86. Coalition of Burma Ethnic Malaysia
87. MAGGA Initiative
88. Anyar Taw Eain
89. Educational Initiatives Myanmar
90. Ta'ang Youth
91. Karenni Political Prisoners Association (KPPA)
92. Taunggyi Educational Learning Hub
93. Tamar Institute of Development
94. Mon State Development Center (MSDC)
95. Youth Congress Rohingya (YCR)
96. Union of Karenni State Youth
97. Kachin Human Rights Watch
98. Pakokku Youth Development Council
99. Inle Women Union
100. The Human Rights of Inle Region
101. Inle Federal Democracy Movement
102. Myanmar Journalist Network
103. Wetlet Strike Committee
104. Zaya State Strike Committee
105. A New Burma (ANB)
106. Action Committee for Democracy Development
107. Ah Nah Podcast – Conversations with Myanmar
108. Anti-coup Forces Coordination Committee (ACFCC – Mandalay)
109. Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon (AJAY)
110. Anyar Pyit Taing Htaung Lay Myar
111. Arakan Youth Peace Network (AYPN)
112. Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)
113. ASR – Association of Spring Rainbow
114. Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organisation
115. Aung San Suu Kyi Park Norway
116. AWDO ငဖဲ။
117. AWDO ဧရာဝတီမြစ်အနောက်ဖက်ဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအင်အားစု
118. A-Yar-Taw People Strike Steering Committee
119. Blood Money Campaign (BMC)
120. Budalin Strike Force
121. Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK
122. Campaign for New Myanmar
123. Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
124. Chin Community in Norway
125. Civil Information Network (CIN)
126. CRPH & NUG Supporters Ireland
127. CRPH Funding Ireland
128. CRPH Support Group, Norway
129. Dagon University Students’ Union (DUSU)
130. Defend Myanmar Democracy
131. Doh Atu – Ensemble pour le Myanmar
132. Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
133. Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
134. Federal Myanmar Tourism Committee
135. Federal Myanmar Tourism Union
136. Free Rohingya Coalition (FRC)
137. General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
138. General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
139. General Strike Coordination Body (GSCB)
140. Generation Wave
141. Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities (GSCN)
142. GGWDO ဂန့်ဂေါဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့။
143. Hpakant Hmawlae Strike Force
144. HTY Scout Channel
145. Information & Scout News (Hlaing)
146. Insein Scout Channel
147. Inter Religious Institute for Peace (IRIP)
148. Justice and Equality Focus (JEF)
149. Justice For Myanmar
150. Kachin Association Norway
151. Kalay Township People's Strike Steering Committee (KPSSC)
152. Kanbalu Strike Force
153. Kani Strike Force
154. Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)
155. Karen Peace Support Network (KPSN)
156. Karen State Civil Society Organization Network (KSCN)
157. K’cho Ethnic Association (Europe)
158. Kyae Lak Myay
159. Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
160. Kyimyindaing Scout Channel
161. Latpadaung Anti-coup Strike Force
162. Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
163. Let’s Help Each Other (LHEO)
164. LGBT Alliance Myanmar
165. Los Angeles Myanmar Movement
166. Magway People's Revolution Committee
167. Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
168. Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
169. MATA စစ်ကိုင်းတိုင်း
170. MayMyo Strike Force
171. Monywa People's Strike Steering Committee
172. Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
173. Myanmar Catholic Community in Norway
174. Myanmar Community in Norway
175. Myanmar Hindu Union
176. Myaung People Strike Steering Committee
177. Myaung Youth Network
178. MyaYar Knowledge Tree
179. Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
180. Network for Human Rights Documentation Burma (ND-Burma)
181. New Step Women Empowerment Group
182. NOK Information & Scout Echo
183. North Dagon & East Dagon News
184. Norway Matu Community
185. Norway Rvwang Community
186. Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
187. Olive Organization
188. Owl Community
189. Pale Township People's Strike Steering Committee
190. PDO ပွင့်ဖြူဖွံ့ဖြိုးတိုးတက်ရေးအဖွဲ့
191. People Defense Supporting Force
192. People Strikes Force
193. Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
194. Queers of Burma Alternative
195. Rohingya Community in Norway
196. Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN)
197. Shwe Bo Strike Force
198. Sisters2Sisters
199. Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
200. South Dagon Scouting Infos (SDG)
201. Southern Initiatives
202. Southern Youth Development Organization
203. Ta'ang Students and Youth Union (TSYU)
204. Ta'ang Women's Organization (TWO)
205. Tamwe Nway Oo Channel
206. Thaketa & Dawbon Scout Channel
207. The Ladies Organization
208. Thint Myat Lo Thu Myar Organization
209. Union of Karenni State Youth (UKSY)
210. University of Medicine Mandalay Student Union Revolutionary Front (UMMSURF)
211. University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
212. Volunteers in Myanmar
213. Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
214. White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
215. Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
216. Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
217. Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
218. Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
219. Yain Nwehh Par – ယိမ်းနွဲ့ပါး (Rainbow Win The Storm – RIS)
220. Yangon Deaf Group
221. Yangon Public Relations
222. Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
223. Youth for Democratization of Myanmar (UDM)
224. Youth Scout For Democracy (YSD)
225. Zomi Christian Fellowship of Norway
226. Zomi Community Norway
227. မင်းဘူးတောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့။
228. မင်းလှတောင်သူများအစုအဖွဲ့။
229. အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
230. National Youth Congress (NYC)
231. Burma Human Rights Network
232. Karen Swedish Community (KSC)

Philippines:

233. Associated Labor Union (ALU)
234. Burma Solidarity Philippines
235. Federation of Free Workers (FFW)
236. Independent RightPak Employees Union
237. Mitsubishi Motors Workers Union – Philippines
238. National Federation of Labor (NFL)
239. National Public Workers Congress (PUBLIK)
240. National Union of Bank Employees – Insurance and Finance Organization (NUBE-IFO)
241. National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW)
242. Philippine Metalworkers Alliance (PMA)
243. PKI Employees Welfare Union
244. PKI Supervisory Union
245. Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK)
246. TF Logistics Philippines Supervisory Union
247. Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
248. Union Network International – Philippine Liaison Council (UNI-PLC)
249. Unified Filipino Service Workers (UFSW)
250. Workers Union of Pozzolanic Philippines Inc.
251. Manila Water Employees Union (MWEU)
252. Alliance of Government Workers in the Water Sector (AGWWAS)
253. Philippine Government Employees Association (PGEA)
254. Maynilad Water Supervisors Association (MWSA)
255. Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW)
256. Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO)
257. Partido Manggagawa (PM)
258. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)
259. NAGKAISA Labor Coalition from the Philippines
260. Partido Sosyalista