"MYANMAR is facing myriad problems: conflict in Rakhine State, the failure of the National League for Democracy to amend the 2008 Constitution in parliament; the exodus of more than half a million Muslims to Bangladesh; Myanmar being prosecuted at the United Nations’ International Court of Justice; deadlock in the peace process. And now we have the arrival of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, which is posing a threat to the whole world. At the same time, Myanmar’s Union Election Commission is working to hold a free and fair general election at the end of 2020. Given all that is going on in Myanmar and the world, why is it important to hold an election in Myanmar? And is it likely to be held? Myanmar has been under military dictatorship for most of its modern history and has had few free and fair elections. More often it has held elections that were just for show, to cement the power of the dictators. In 1988, a nationwide uprising of ordinary people demanding democracy was crushed by a military takeover. The generals who took power held a reasonably free and fair election in 1990, but they refused to transfer power after the NLD won in a landslide. Instead, the generals drew up a new constitution to preserve their grip on power. It was approved at a farcical referendum in 2008 and under this constitution they held an election in November 2010..."