Burmese military killed more than 700 civilians during election period, per UN
According to the U.N. high commissioner, there were more civilian deaths during two periods: August–September 2025 and December 2025–January 2026, coinciding “with the announcement of the elections and the military’s advances on the battlefield.”
A man walks past the ruins of a building following an airstrike by the Burmese military (File photo)
More than 700 civilians were killed by the Burmese military during the election period, between August 2025 and January 2026, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights announced on Monday.
The junta in Burma (or Myanmar) organized legislative elections in December 2025 and January 2026, presenting them—after five years of authoritarian rule—as a return to democracy.
However, the elections could not be held in large areas controlled by rebels and ultimately resulted in a landslide, uncontested victory for parties aligned with the military.
The report exposing the massacre
According to “reliable sources, ... at least 702 civilians were killed across the country” during the election period, states the report by the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.
A spokesperson for that agency, Ravina Shamdasani, told AFP that “those 702 deaths are attributable to the Burmese military.”
“This does not mean that other armed groups are not responsible for other civilian casualties. These are the credible data we have. This figure is not exhaustive,” the spokesperson added.
The report notes that “airstrikes were the main causeof destruction and suffering.”
Furthermore, “reliable open sources indicated that armed opposition groups carried out attacks that affected civilians, at least 95 of which were related to the elections.”
Fatalities: 224 women and 153 children
Among the 702 people killed, there are 224 women and 153 children, the report states.
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