On a patch of rough ground near the Irrawaddy River, aspiring member of parliament and retired Lieutenant-General Tayza Kyaw tries to muster some enthusiasm from his audience with a speech promising them better times.
He is the candidate for the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), backed by Myanmar's military, in Aungmyaythazan, a constituency in the city of Mandalay.
The crowd of 300-400 clutch the branded hats and flags they've been given, but soon wilt in the afternoon heat, some dozing off.
Children run and play in between the rows of chairs. Many of these families are victims of the earthquake which badly damaged Mandalay and surrounding areas in March, and are hoping for a handout. They disappear the moment the rally finishes.
On Sunday, the people of Myanmar will get their first opportunity to vote in an election since the military seized power in a coup nearly five years ago, setting off a devastating civil war.
But the poll, already delayed many times by the ruling junta, is being widely condemned as a sham. The most popular party, the National League for Democracy, has been dissolved, and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is imprisoned.
Voting, which will happen in three stages over a month, will not even be possible in large areas still engulfed in conflict. Even where voting is occurring, it will be marked by fear and intimidation.
When the BBC tried asking people at the rally in Mandalay what they thought of the election, we were told not to by party officials. The presence of plain-clothes military intelligence officers helps explain their nervousness. In a dictatorship that has criminalized dissent, even pro-military party activists feared the consequences of speaking freely.
One woman shared her view, but only in private, fearing repercussions. This election is a lie, she said. Everyone is afraid. Everyone has lost their humanity and freedom. So many people have died, been tortured, or fled to other countries. If the military keeps running the country, how can things change?
Another reported, We will vote, but not with our hearts. Such sentiments echo throughout the country, where many have resolved to comply with the voting process due to intimidation and fear of retaliation.
General Tayza Kyaw blames civilian casualties on those opposing the military, declaring them terrorists. With few parties allowed to challenge the USDP and an atmosphere of repression, public engagement in the election remains tepid at best.
Ultimately, Min Aung Hlaing, Myanmar's military leader, hopes this election will bestow upon him the legitimacy that has eluded him amidst civil strife, fortified by support from China and the military's continued arms supply. However, as conflict rages on and civilian discontent grows, the future of democracy in Myanmar remains uncertain.
