Myanmar Junta Using New Election Law to Crack Down on Dissent Ahead of Sham Elections - Fortify Rights
12/16/25, 10:40 AM
On October 29, 2025, the Myanmar military junta announced the arrest
of three artists—!lm director Mike Tee, actor Kyaw Win Htut, and
comedian Ohn Daing—accusing them of undermining the upcoming
election through social media posts. The junta-controlled media states
that the men “failed” to contribute their artistic expertise towards the
success of the upcoming election, saying: “[T]hey criticized and
attacked” artists who were cooperating with the sham elections,
saying “It was also found that they had written and distributed content
intended to undermine public trust in the general election.”
Reportedly, on December 2, the three artists were each sentenced to
seven years in prison. Courts in Yangon issued verdicts on separate
dates: the South Dagon Township Court sentenced Ohn Daing on
November 25, the Yankin Township Court sentenced Mike Tee on
November 27, and the Bahan Township Court sentenced Kyaw Win
Htut on November 28.
On November 28, 2025, the U.N. Human Rights O"ce said in a brie!ng
report:
After unilaterally imposing a so-called “Election Protection Law” in
late July, the military announced it arrested nearly 100 people
under its provisions for allegedly disturbing security – including
for actions as minor as liking social media posts critical of the
election – and has charged many more, including senior !gures
from Ethnic Armed Organisations. The law’s chilling e$ect is clear:
civilians report fear to express any opinion about the election.
https://www.fortifyrights.org/mya-inv-2025-12-10/
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