The Situation of Freedom of Expression in Myanmar (April 2026)

April 2026 marked the month when the new government was formed and parliamentary sessions commenced based on the results of the military’s sham elections. Following the formation of the new government, military-owned media announced two separate amnesties, claiming that 4,335 prisoners were released. However, according to a statement by the Political Prisoners Network (PPN), only approximately 3,194 prisoners were actually released from prisons across Myanmar. It was observed that only about 300 political prisoners were among those granted amnesty in April.

The release included President U Win Myint, who had been sentenced to 12 years in prison across eight cases since the 2021 coup, as well as documentary filmmaker Ma Shin Daewe and ABFSU student leader Ko Lin Htet Naing (aka Ko James). The granting of amnesty to high-profile political prisoners, including President U Win Myint, by order of the new government can be viewed as an attempt to gain international recognition and legitimacy. Although several prominent political prisoners were released, a vast number of political prisoners serving sentences under similar legal charges remain behind bars. According to data compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), more than 20,000 political prisoners remain in Myanmar’s prisons.

Furthermore, the military is utilizing technology to maintain constant surveillance on those released under amnesty, as well as their families and friends. They are conducting close tracking through the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS). According to reports from the Spring Revolution Database (SRD), the military has begun using PSMS Application Version 1.2, which reportedly contains the personal data of approximately 50,000 targeted individuals. It can be seen that even after release, individuals remain under surveillance through modern technology, making it difficult for them to reintegrate into society. This is a clear attempt to continue restricting political beliefs and freedom of expression.

On April 9, the business licenses of three news outlets were revoked under the pretext of national security. The licenses of Chin World, KHONUMTHUNG MEDIA GROUP, and Nowadays News (Myet Myauk Khet) were canceled. This marks the first instance of mass license revocations since the initial wave of media shutdowns following the 2021 coup. From 2021 to April 2026, 18 news agencies had their licenses revoked.

According to data collected by Athan, 137 townships experienced phone and internet outages during April 2026.

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