Free Press for a Free Myanmar

As World Press Freedom Day was marked on 3 May, the Myanmar military junta’s ever-expanding restrictions on press freedom have brought Myanmar to rank an appalling 169th out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index. Escalating since the 2021 attempted coup, the junta is systematically suppressing freedom of expression with an unprecedented intensity and rigor through internet shutdowns, online censorship and surveillance, and the large-scale arrest of journalists, including citizen journalists. Myanmar now ranks second only to China as the world’s highest jailor of journalists. It is vital that international media organizations and donors take meaningful action to protect press freedom and support local media and citizen journalists to ensure essential information from the ground continues to be shared despite the junta’s commitment to silencing their voices.

Repression, censorship, and control of print and digital media have long been used in Myanmar in attempts to isolate the people from one another and the outside world. Since the coup attempt however, the erosion of press freedom has reached new depths as the junta attempts to stifle resistance voices, obfuscate its human rights violations, and spread disinformation that suits its distorted narratives. Under the guise of an illegitimate ‘Cybersecurity Law’ since January 2025, the junta has further eroded freedom of expression by increasing social media monitoring, cracking down on Virtual Personal Network (VPN) usage, and using online surveillance to arbitrarily arrest or punish anyone deemed subversive. Technical support from Russia and China is continually enhancing digital surveillance intrusions aimed to instill terror and curtail rights to privacy and freedom of expression.

The junta systematically and arbitrarily arrests journalists—illegally condemning them to lengthy sentences with the Counter-Terrorism Law, the Penal Code, and other restrictive laws and policies. Athan, a Myanmar organization working for freedom of expression, reports that 218 journalists and media workers had been arrested since the coup attempt as of February 2025. Myanmar now imprisons the second highest number of journalists worldwide. Moreover, at least 10 journalists have been killed since the coup attempt, with hundreds forced into hiding or exile fearing arrest, torture, or death. As political prisoners in junta-controlled prisons, journalists face ill-treatment and torture, such as Sai Zaw Theik—a Myanmar Now journalist detained in Insein Prison, Yangon Region—was repeatedly subjected to in February 2025.

Amid the devastation caused by the 28 March earthquakes, restricted media and internet blocks prevented news of the damage being shared beyond localities and impeded information sharing of people’s urgent needs or how to access humanitarian support. As seen most catastrophically during Cyclone Nargis in 2008 and in other natural disasters since, internet and phone line shutdowns, censoring information of the destruction, preventing international journalists’ access, and silencing criticism of the military’s responses, are commonplace strategies of the Myanmar military during natural disasters. Marking a terrifying precedent for journalists seeking to cover the 28 March earthquake or expose the junta’s weaponization of aid in its aftermath, Sai Zaw Theik is serving a 20-year sentence for covering the impact of Cyclone Mocha in Rakhine State in 2023. Internet blackouts have been imposed on over 100 townships with the junta frequently shutting down mobile and internet networks on areas it attacks in attempts to prevent local media and citizen journalists from sharing the truth of its atrocities.

Myanmar media outlets now operating from exile—having had licenses revoked and fled danger of arrest or death after the coup attempt, are also facing external threats. Following the defunding and imminent dissolution of Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA) by the United States government, these organizations’ crucial reports of Myanmar’s crisis on the ground and independent coverage of abuses against civilians, have been lost. With internet access blocked or severely restricted in many areas, their radio broadcasts were relied upon for credible, accessible information by millions of people.

Nevertheless, journalists inside Myanmar and in exile continue to work relentlessly despite extreme challenges and constant attacks. As Toe Zaw Latt, Secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar, wrote for Global Voices, “Since the coup in Myanmar, we’ve seen how truth itself has become a threat to authoritarian power. In these dark times, journalism is not just a profession: it is a lifeline, a shield, a weapon, and a form of resistance. World Press Freedom Day is a reminder that fighting for democracy includes fighting for the freedom to write, speak, and question.” Against all adversity, local media and citizen journalists maintain their independence, resilience, and democratic resistance by keeping the public informed with the truth. By shining light on the junta’s atrocities, journalists seek to ensure justice and accountability will prevail.

It is essential that the international community provide independent media outlets and journalists, both inside the country and in exile, with technical and financial support for their reporting and investigations to continue. Their work keeps international observers abreast of developments to guide appropriate policy decisions, exposes junta atrocities, and above all, informs the Myanmar people of the affairs of their country. A free and independent press is a core pillar of democratic society and the voices of Myanmar people exposing truths and calling for a peaceful, democratic, inclusive future must be supported and amplified far and wide.

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[1] One year following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, the former military junta changed the country’s name from Burma to Myanmar overnight. Progressive Voice uses the term ‘Myanmar’ in acknowledgement that most people of the country use this term. However, the deception of inclusiveness and the historical process of coercion by the former State Peace and Development Council military regime into usage of ‘Myanmar’ rather than ‘Burma’ without the consent of the people is recognized and not forgotten. Thus, under certain circumstances, ‘Burma’ is used.

Progressive Voice is a participatory, rights-based policy research and advocacy organization that was born out of Burma Partnership. Burma Partnership officially ended its work on October 10, 2016 transitioning to a rights-based policy research and advocacy organization called Progressive Voice. For further information, please see our press release “Burma Partnership Celebrates Continuing Regional Solidarity for Burma and Embraces the Work Ahead for Progressive Voice.”