Burma heads to the polls Sunday for a vote expected to return to power the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains a hero at home in spite of a reputation abroad shattered by the Rohingya crisis.
Coronavirus cases have spiralled in recent months, sending swathes of the country into lockdown and largely forcing election campaigns online, where hate speech between rival factions has flourished. But Suu Kyi, who has placed herself front and centre in the fight against the epidemic, refused to postpone the polls.
Doubts about the vote’s credibility are already overshadowing the election. Virtually all the Rohingya Muslims remaining in the country are stripped of citizenship and rights, including their chance to vote.
“This is an apartheid election,” said Burma Campaign UK, adding the polls were “less free and fair than the last”.