COMMENT | Asean must use its upcoming 47th Summit this month to unequivocally reject the junta’s planned sham election and to launch a complete strategic reset on Myanmar.

Following his Oct 9 visit to Myanmar, Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan set out firm minimum benchmarks for a credible Myanmar election,

He clarified that it must be conducted “in accordance with the principles of free, fair, transparent, and credible processes” and “should be held throughout the country with the participation of all political parties and stakeholders”.

On these grounds alone, the junta’s planned election, slated to begin on Dec 28, fails. Asean must outright reject it. Anything short of this would be a callous betrayal of the Myanmar people and a dangerous reward to violent authoritarianism throughout the region.

The military junta’s blatant lie on Oct 10 that Mohamad had...