LOSS OF CONTROL
The coup sparked widespread protests that were met with a brutal crackdown that transformed the demonstrations into an armed resistance movement. It has since combined with many established ethnic minority armies to become the most significant challenge to the military in decades.
The military government in July said 27 of the parties that have registered for the election have denounced the rebellion.
The junta does not have effective control of Myanmar, having lost complete authority over townships covering 86 per cent of the country’s territory that houses 67 per cent of the population, the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar said in a May report.
Earlier this year, thousands of young people also fled abroad after the junta’s call for conscription to replenish its weakened forces.
Last month, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi promised technological assistance for the census-taking process for the “all-inclusive election” at a meeting with Min Aung Hlaing, according to junta media.
The parallel National Unity Government (NUG), comprising former lawmakers and other junta opponents, said the international community and neighbouring countries should denounce the election and the census process.
“The junta has the intention to carry out a sham election and using the excuse of a census, they are collecting information from people which they will use to terrorise them,” its spokesperson Kyaw Zaw said.