April 2026 – On Tuesday, 21 April 2026, AJAR, Odhikar, and the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF) organized an Asia HRD Learning Hub Talk Series to examine the situation of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in the post-election contexts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Thirty-two participants joined the Zoom session to engage with three regional experts, Yingcheep Atchanont from iLAW Thailand, Dr. Mon Mon Myat from the Peace Studies Department of Payap University, and ASM Nasiruddin Elan from Odhikar, Bangladesh.
The talk series aimed to discuss how recent and upcoming elections are affecting the safety and work of human rights defenders. Participants also discussed common challenges and opportunities for regional collaboration.
Dr. Mon Mon Myat opened the session by describing the upcoming 2025 elections in Myanmar as a recurring tactic in the military’s “tyrant playbook” to maintain power through a manipulated constitution. Since the 2021 military coup, violence has become the “new normal,” with systematic oppression targeting HRDs through mass arrests and inhuman prison conditions. “I am not at all enthusiastic about the 2025 elections,” she stated, noting that the outcomes and patterns of military control are already predictable. She highlighted that the military places itself above the law, and because formal protection for defenders is non-existent, guarantees in HRD protection “depend on solidarity, international support, and external advocacy.”
In Thailand, Yingcheep Atchanont detailed a landscape where the “blue” conservative power maintains control over oversight institutions, which has weakened accountability mechanisms. Public trust in the process was deeply shaken by what many believe were rigged results during the February 8 election. Reports emerged of open ballot boxes and suspicious patterns in data reporting. It included a full hour where the Election Commission (ECT) stopped reporting at prime time.
The crackdown became even more obvious when authorities began arresting activists simply for questioning the integrity of the election. Atchanont noted that more than 50 political prisoners remain incarcerated, and the focus must now shift to the legal framework. “The next 4 or 5 years will be a fight on this constitutional reform process,” Atchanont explained, questioning “how much we can call for some rooms that we can participate in this new constitutional drafting process.”
ASM Nasiruddin Elan discussed the February 12, 2026, national elections in Bangladesh, where the winning party’s large majority has led to consolidated control over state institutions. This political environment has seen an increase in the arrest of activists and journalists, with several reform ordinances ignored or left un-enacted. “Between February and April, Odhikar documented 113 incidents of post‑election violence across 26 of the 50 constituencies under direct monitoring. These clashes resulted in 10 deaths and nearly 500 injuries, affecting activists from multiple parties, ordinary citizens, and vulnerable groups,” he said. Human rights defenders are facing increasing pressure as the government cracks down on critics.
During the Q&A session, participants raised more concerns regarding the Rohingya community and other ethnic groups who have lost citizenship status. Participants also highlighted the rise of military-funded misinformation campaigns on platforms like Facebook designed to reduce trust in free media and revolutionary institutions.
Participants also asked about the sustainability of human rights work amidst significant funding cuts. In response, speakers noted that independent media are being forced to cut operational costs and look for new sources of funding to continue their work. Regarding the engagement of youth, Atchanont observed a shift from street protests to formal politics, though many young activists remain hesitant due to the history of violent crackdowns and arrests of their predecessors.
At the end of the session, moderator Indria Fernida highlighted several key concerns raised during the discussion, including declining media funding, shrinking civic space, and the need for regional-level solidarity to protect HRDs. A graphic recorder also joined the session to visually document the discussion and make the key points more accessible.
This Talk Series is a regular event for the Asia HRD Learning Hub, hosted by Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Timor Leste, Cross Cultural Foundation in Thailand, ODHIKAR in Bangladesh, and Suriya Women Development Center in Sri Lanka.