HIGHLIGHTS In the first quarter of 2026, seven journalists were released under amnesty in March which was marked as Peasant’s Day. While the military junta made no new arrests during this period, one journalist was arrested by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin state and released after a day of detention. There was no new conviction. By the end of March 2026, 19 journalists remain in jail (As of April 17, after the release of documentary filmmak- The most striking trend in early 2026 is the apparent decline in arrests of er Shin Daewe, the latest count of those still in prison is 18). journalists that came along Overall, 216 journalists have been arrested since the coup, with with orchestrated political 18 remaining in detention and 13 have died. Of these fatalities, change by the junta. the military junta is responsible for nine and unidentified armed groups are responsible for four. There have been four documented incidents of journalists being arrested by resistance forces. The most striking trend in early 2026 is the apparent On the surface, this could be interpreted as an improvement in press freedom conditions. decline in arrests of journalists that came along with orchestrated However, the reduction in political change by the junta. On the surface, this could be inter- arrests reflects not a preted as an improvement in press freedom conditions. However, the reduction in arrests reflects not a decrease in repression, but a shift in its form. Years of arrests, prosecutions, and harsh sentencing decrease in repression, but a shift in its form. have already established a climate of fear. Imprisoned photojournalist Myat Thu Kyaw has reportedly suffered physical violence while serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence in Insein Prison. The brief detention of editor Ta Lin Maung by the Kachin Independence Army underscores the recurring threats reporters face from non-state actors over their public commentary. Update on Journalism and Media Safety in Myanmar 2