JOHN: THIS WEEKEND IN MYANMAR, WHICH IS ALSO KNOWN AS BURMA, THE SECOND PHASE OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS IS UNDERWAY.

IT'S THE FIRST ELECTION SINCE THE RULING MILITARY REGIME SEIZED POWER FIVE YEARS AGO, WITH MAJOR OPPOSITION PARTIES BARRED FROM PARTICIPATING.

LEADERS JAILED AND AN ONGOING CIVIL WAR KEEPING MANY FROM VOTING, THE PROCESS IS WIDELY CRITICIZED AS A SHAM.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KIRA KAY HAS THE STORY.

KIRA: THE NEWSROOM OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOICE OF BURMA IS ON COUNTDOWN.

HERE 2:00 P.M.

BROADCAST ABOUT TO GO LIVE.

TODAY'S NEWS IS ABOUNDING BY THE HOSPITAL NEAR THE MILITARY, WHO TOOK CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY FIVE YEARS AGO.

ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THEY WERE STRIKING REBELS, REPORTERS CONFIRMED THAT 34 CIVILIANS WERE KILLED, INCLUDING A PREGNANT WOMAN AND A THREE-MONTH-OLD BABY.

>> YOU SEE ALL THESE BOMBS, ALMOST EVERY DAY, AND A SIMILAR THING HAPPENED IN BURMA, EVERY DAY.

TWO OR THREE AIRSTRIKES EVERY DAY.

KIRA: THE FOUNDER RELIES ON A NETWORK OF JOURNALISTS TO RISK THEIR LIVES DAILY TO GET FOOTAGE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

IT SITS IN NORTHERN THAILAND.

>> AND THIS IS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

KIRA: IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1992 AND NOW FINDS ITSELF THERE AGAIN AFTER THE COUP.

>> LIFE IN MYANMAR TODAY IS A FAR CRY FROM ITS SO-CALLED DECADE OF HOPE, WHICH BEGAN IN 2010, WHEN THE COUNTRY FIRST TENTATIVELY OPEN TO THE WORLD AND TRIED DEMOCRACY.

THAT IS WHEN NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING OPPOSITION LEADER WAS RELEASED FROM HOUSE ARREST, ALLOWED TO RUN FOR PARLIAMENT AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE COUNTRY'S DE FACTO LEADER.

THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED, FUNDING DEMOCRACY EFFORTS AND ENCOURAGING INVESTMENT.

NEWSROOMS OPENED.

>> WE WERE QUITE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO MOVE BACK TO BURMA.

WE WERE ABLE TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GET THE STORY FROM EVERYWHERE.

YOUNG PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED THE FREEDOM WITH THE INTERNET.

IT IS AFFORDABLE TO ALMOST EVERYBODY, AND COMPANIES ARE COMING IN, SO IT IS A PRETTY PROMISING FUTURE FOR THE COUNTRY.

KIRA: BUT THE MILITARY NEVER FULLY LET GO.

THE CONSTITUTION GUARANTEE THEM 25 SEATS IN PARLIAMENT, GIVING THEM AN EFFECTIVE DETAIL OVER TRUE REFORM.

IN THE ARMY'S GENOCIDE OF THE PEOPLE, WHICH HAPPENED UNDER LEADERSHIP, WAS A BLACK STAIN ON THE REPUTATION.

SHE WALKED A FRAGILE LINE WITH THE MILITARY FROM THE BEGINNING.

>> IF YOU HAVE READ THE PRESENT CONSTITUTION, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT WITHOUT THE BACKING OF THE MILITARY, WE CAN NEVER SAY THAT WE ARE REALLY ON THE ROUTE TO DEMOCRACY.

KIRA: ON FEBRUARY 1, 20 21, FOLLOWING ANOTHER HUMILIATING LOSS AND CLAIM AN ELECTION FRAUD, THE MILITARY ENDED THE DEMOCRACY EXPERIMENT.

NEWLY ELECTED PARLIAMENTARIANS, INCLUDING THESE THREE FROM HER PARTY, WERE ABOUT TO BE SWORN IN FOR THE NEW TERM.

>> THEY DETAINED US REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES COLLECT AT 2:00 A.M.

IN OUR HOMES.

SOME OF THE MALE REPRESENTATIVES ARE TAKEN AWAY WITH HOODS OVER THEIR HEADS.

CIVIL SERVANTS AND STUDENTS LAUNCHED A NONVIOLENT PROTEST.

BUT THEN, THEY CRACKED DOWN.

>> WE HAD TO LAUNCH OUR RESISTANCE TOGETHER.

STUDENTS AND OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE, EVEN THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

NONE OF US WANTED TO DO ARMED RESISTANCE, BUT WE HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.

>> I TOOK A LEADING ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE PEOPLE'S DEFENSE FORCE.

WE HELD BASIC MILITARY TRAININGS ON THE BORDER AND COORDINATED FOR MY CONSTITUENTS.

KIRA: FIVE YEARS LATER, MYANMAR IS IN THE GRIPS OF A BRUTAL CIVIL WAR BUT AN INCREASINGLY DESPERATE POLITICAL GROUP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO WIN, DESPITE HELP FROM ABROAD.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TRACING THE USE OF SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS OF WAR TO ATTACK CIVILIANS.

WHERE ARE THEY GETTING THE WEAPONS?

WELL, PRESSURE, NUMBER ONE.

CHINA, NUMBER TWO.

KIRA: COMMANDERS IS A FORMER U.S.

CONGRESSMAN.

>> THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NOT ONLY BE IN NOT PROVIDING THE REQUISITE LEVELS OF HUMANITARIAN AID BUT ARE UNWILLING TO PROVIDE DEPRESSION NECESSARY TO BACK THIS MILITARY OFF.

KIRA: WESTERN SANCTIONS ON JET FUEL AND THE MYANMAR BANKING SYSTEMS IS PARTIAL AND UNCOORDINATED.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DROPPED SOME AMERICAN SANCTIONS ON ALLIES OF THE ROMAN GENERALS -- ON ALLIES OF THE GENERALS, THIS SUMMER.

>> NO, WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT HER POSITION IS, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

THEY ARE BEING MOVED TO PARTIAL CONDITIONS.

IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET INFORMATION.

KIRA: ACROSS THE BORDER IN NEIGHBORING THAILAND, A PRO-DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT IS FLOURISHING, COMPRISED OF ONE SELECTED LEADERS.

>> I WILL TRY MY BEST TO TAKE DOWN THE MILITARY.

KIRA: THE NEWS HOUR FIRST MET HIM 10 YEARS AGO AS HE REGISTERED TO BE A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE WITH HIS FATHER IN TOW.

WE NEXT MET HIM AND HIDING IN 20 22, AS HE HELPED ESTABLISH A PRO-DEMOCRACY NATIONAL CABINET.

HE ADMITS HE IS TIRED BUT NO LESS DETERMINED.

>> THE YOUNGER GENERATION ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THEM, AND COMPARED WITH THEM, MY SITUATION IS NOT SO BAD.

KIRA: YOUNG FORCES HAVE GAINED TERRITORY FROM THEIR CONTROL AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS ARE TAKING OVER WITH GUIDANCE FROM THE PRO-DEMOCRACY LEADERSHIP.

>> WE HAVE TO GIVE PUBLIC SERVITUDE TO THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION, AND ALSO OTHER THINGS, SO WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE THAT HONESTY TO THE PEOPLE.

KIRA: THE WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS ARE ACTIVELY COORDINATING AID AND SERVICES WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT IS A MOST DESPERATE NEED.

>> WE RELY ON THAT MONEY FOR SERVICES.

>> FOR ELECTRICITY.

MY MINISTRY IS THE MINISTRY OF ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY.

WE OVERSEE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND CAN PROVIDE ELECTRICITY TO HUNDREDS OF VILLAGES.

KIRA: BUT NOW, DESPITE HAVING LOST CONTROL OF SIGNIFICANT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, THE MYANMAR MILITARY GOVERNMENT DECIDED THIS IS THE TIME TO HOLD A NEW NATIONWIDE ELECTION.

>> THEY KNOW HOW MUCH THEY WOULD LOSE ANY FREE AND FAIR ELECTION, SO THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GO THROUGH THESE MOVES AND CHARADE OF AN ELECTION.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ACTUAL POLITICAL PARTIES THAT OVERWHELMINGLY WIN, THEY ARE OUTLAWED AND THAT FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS OUTLAWED, AND THEY WILL ACCEPT THE SO-CALLED ELECTION.

KIRA: INSIDE MYANMAR, ACTIVISTS ARE URGING A BOY CART, OPENLY ON PUBLIC STREETS, AT GREAT RISK TO THEIR LIVES.

THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MORE THAN 300 ARRESTS UNDER A NEW SO-CALLED ELECTION INTERFERENCE LAW, WITH VIOLATORS FACING THE POTENTIAL OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> I FEEL ABANDONED AND HAVE MUCH LESS SPACE AND DEMOCRACY.

THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS TO HELP ME AND MARK.

FIRST, RECOGNIZE ARE TRULY ELECTED LEADERSHIP.

PUT PRESSURE ON FOR THE RELEASE OF LEADERS, HELP PREVENT JET FUEL AND ARMS BY SANCTIONING AND OTHER METHODS, AND STRONGLY REJECT SHAM ELECTIONS.

>> YOU HAVE CHAMPIONS ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE VALUES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT WHAT AMERICANS ARE ALL ABOUT.

IT IS ALSO IN OUR NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST.

THIS IS A STRATEGICALLY IMPORTED PART OF THE WORLD, NATURAL RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE.

THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES REALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND FOR PRINCIPLE, BUT ALSO TO SEIZE STRATEGIC INTEREST.

KIRA: THE MYANMAR MILITARY GOVERNMENT WILL ANNOUNCE FINAL RESULTS AFTER A THIRD ROUND OF VOTING AT THE END OF JANUARY.

VOTER TURNOUT SO FAR HAS BEEN LOW.

FOR PBS NEWS WEEK END, I AM KIRA KAY.

JOHN: ON JANUARY 26, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL END TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR ABOUT 4000 BURMESE REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES, SAYING IT'S NOW SAFE FOR CITIZENS TO RETURN.

ADVOCATES FOR THESE REFUGEES SAY MOST OF THEM ARE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS WHO WOULD BE TARGETED BY THE MILITARY REGIME IF THEY WERE FORCED TO GO BACK.