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Update on Journalism and Media in Myanmar July - September 2023 Printing/publishing permits 0 0 revoked Note: An updated column for January to June 2023 has been included above to reflect corrections in the tally of journalists arrested and released in the first half of the year. Action against journalists and Total since the 2021 news workers coup (as of 30 Sep 2023) Arrested In detention/serving jail sentences Released Died Women Men 197 29 168 59 6 53 138 23 115 5 Convicted Status of news and other licenses 67 5 12 55 Total since the 2021 coup (as of 30 Sep 2023) News licenses cancelled 14 Printing/publishing permits revoked 9 Breakdown of convictions of journalists by law, 2023 Laws used in convictions Jul - Sep 2023 Total (as of 30 Sep 2023) Counter-terrorism Law 1 Natural Disaster Management Law 1 1 Penal Code – Section 124A (sedition) 2 2 Penal Code – Section 505A 1 4 1 1 (incitement) Telecommunications Law Total 9 5

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Update on Journalism and Media in Myanmar

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Language

English

Topic

Digital Rights
Digital Surveillance
Disinformation
Information Operation
Military Coup

Author(s)

Athan

Date Published: Dec 14, 2023

Abstract: Highlights Three journalists were arrested and one photojournalist was convicted under Myanmar’s military regime during July to September 2023. This photojournalist, who works for Myanmar Now, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted under four charges in September. This is the longest combined prison term handed down to a journalist since the military coup of February 2021. The conviction of another individual, The Irrawaddy’s news publisher, is included in this quarter’s update, but he was sentenced at the end of June. During this quarter, there were reports of attacks on two other news persons - a reporter and a former journalist – in northern Kachin state, where insecurity has been running high amid the escalation of decades-long conflict between the Myanmar military and armed ethnic organisations. The motives behind these two attacks are unknown. The reporter sustained injuries after the motorcycle he was riding on was hit by a car, while the former journalist died from gunshots fired at him while he was on his motorbike. One former editor, in detention since April, was released in July. As of end-September 2023, 59 journalists remained behind bars. Since January 2023, a total of eight journalists have been arrested and six journalists have been convicted. The majority of the convictions continue to be under Section 505A of the Myanmar Penal Code, which penalises incitement against government and security forces, causing fear among the public and spreading false news. Journalists continue to work in dangerous situations in Myanmar’s continuing conflict, where they face challenges in physical and digital safety, gathering news, and economic security. In Rakhine, there are fresh signs that the space for news work is shrinking further in a region whose media community faced restrictions even before the coup. In the third quarter of 2023, journalists, along with civil society and other activists, were the subject of tighter security checks, more frequent random checks and a stepped-up hunt for them after the Rakhine regional authorities circulated a list of individuals wanted for a mix of security-related crimes.

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Update on Journalism and Media in Myanmar

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