Speech Under Siege of Electoral Law in Myanmar

The “Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction” was enacted by the State Security and Peace Commission on July 29, 2025. This law was enacted and signed by Min Aung Hlaing as State Administration Council Law No. 48/2025. Following the enactment of the law, individuals and organizations were arrested and heavily prosecuted under this law. The penalties under this law are extremely severe, ranging from a minimum sentence of three (3) years in prison and a maximum sentence of capital punishment. 

As par the State Security and Peace Commission’s disclosure – 40 cases were taken action under the law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction by 29 October 2025. According to the State Security and Peace Commission’s report, the cases included (83) male and (5)female, totalling (88) individuals.

Myanmar Internet Project as of 14 November 2025, have documented, with names,  a total of 32 individuals, 29 men and 3 women, as having been arrested citing the provisions of the  “Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction.”

Arrested list for each region and state,

recorded by name by the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP)

According to the our records, 14 individuals from Yangon Region, 5 individuals from Yangon Kayinni, 2 individuals from Shan State, 1 individual from Bago Region, 2 individuals from Ayarwaddy Region, 2 individuals from Kayin State, 1 individual from Mon State, and 5 individuals whose townships have not yet been confirmed were arrested.

Arrests citing the electoral law through social media interactions and expressions

Among 32 people who have been recorded along with names, 11 individuals were arrested for criticizing “the Sham Election” online or for interacting by “reacting” to social media posts criticizing “the Sham Election”. In other words, 33.4 percent were arrested under the “Law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction” due to their expressions and interactions online.

Among those arrested for criticizing the “sham election” on social media, five prominent artists were involved. Owing to criticism on social media around involvement of actors credited in the election propaganda movie named “Khit Thamine Ko Done Sai Thu Myar”, director Mike Tee (also known as Than Tun Zaw), actor Kyaw Win Htut (also known as Kyaw Min Htut), and comedian Ohn Dine (also known as Zaw Myint) were detained on 27 October 2025 under the electoral law. Moreover, director Zabu Tun Thet Lwin and director Aung Chan Lu were also arrested under this law. 

One of the famous Academy Award-winning actresses, Phway Phway, was also detained and allegedly questioned for refusing to participate in the election campaign filming programs. A few days after this news emerged, short video clips featuring artists in the election campaign were broadcast by MRTV, and they later spread widely online as well.

Charges and Cases citing the Electoral Law 

While the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP) analyzed the 15 filed cases under the law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction, it was found that 4 organizations and 3 news information sharing pages, including media, were sued. In 15 filed cases, 66 people have also been charged.

The organizations that have been sued are the Karen National Union(KNU), Chinland, the Arakan Army (AA), and the People’s Defence Force(PDF). Hlaing Info Telegram Channel, Telegram channel of Khit Thit News Media, and AAMIJ News were also charged under this law.

Among those who have been charged, 34 are from the Karen National Union (KNU), 18 are from Chinland,  5 are members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF), 3 individuals were charged for their social media posts, and 6 others were arrested for various election obstruction and disruption activities. Members of the Arakan Army (AA) and members of the People’s Defence Force (PDF),  who attempted to disrupt the “sham election”, were also charged by  the State Security and Peace Commission. In collecting information for this, only the names of the armed groups involved were identified, and the exact number of individuals is not known.

Moreover, the People’s Party candidate for the Pyithu Hluttaw seat in Thingangyun Township, U Lwin Myint, used the words “Uprising” and “Revolution,” which refer to events following the 2021 military coup, during his election campaign activities. Therefore, the junta’s lobby channels accused him of violating the law and failing to meet candidate qualifications. The State Security and Peace Commission’s election commission then announced that it would take action.

The above situations and data highlight that “the law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic Elections from Obstruction, Disruption and Destruction” directly threatens the digital Rights, media freedom and Freedom of expression and this law is being used as a weapon.

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