ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship editor U Ne Win San and reporter Ma Hnin Nwean at Thuzar Maung is the head of the Myanmar Muslim the Sittwe-based Development Media Group were Refugee Community and has over 93,000 followers sued by the military for publishing a news story on her Facebook page, where she regularly criticises about alleged military corruption. After the coup, the alleged abuses committed by the Burmese the situation took a turn for the worse. On Feb. 3, junta.46 For those who actively oppose the military 2021, renowned monk U Thawbita, who repeatedly junta, the penalties are extremely severe. Activist posted messages on Facebook criticising the military, Kyaw Thet, aged 30, holds the sad record of being was sentenced to two years under Section 66(d). sentenced to 225 years in prison and the death He has been facing multiple charges brought by the penalty as a member of the People’s Defense Force. military for several offences, including defamation, Activist Aung Khant Oo is close behind, second only since pre-coup times. More recently, Ye Htut was to Thet in receiving the heaviest sentence. Facing sentenced to three years in prison for sedition under several terrorism-related charges, he was given a Article 124(a) of the Penal Code, following his “subtle total sentence of 203 years by the Magway District ridiculing” of the military on Facebook. Before his Court, under the control of the regime.47 40 41 arrest in October 2023, he had previously held the posts of Minister of Information and Presidential Spokesman under the military-backed administration of President Thein Sein.42 In November 2023, five individuals were arrested in connection with the start of a major anti-regime offensive in neighbouring Shan State two weeks earlier. One man was arrested for confirming curfew rumours on social media. A woman was taken into custody after sharing a video of herself with an eugenics plant, widely used to express support for People’s Defence Force groups. The circumstances of the arrests of the other three people in November, as well as the articles or laws used against them, remain unknown to date. However, it has been reported that the arrests were linked to their online activities.43 Exiled or Detained: The Plight of HRDs and Activists Targeting by the military has pushed many HRDs and activists into exile.44 Those unable to flee the country ended up being detained in most cases. In addition, their residences are frequently invaded, their belongings taken, and family members threatened and harassed.45 Even when they are in exile, activists remain exposed to danger. For example, Thuzar Maung, her husband and their three children were reportedly abducted from their home in the Malaysian state of Selangor in July 2023, according to CCTV footage. Myanmar “ [Our] empowerment was for a fleeting moment. There are so many activists like me. They are jailed, they are detained, they are sexually harassed. Many of them are fleeing the country … Many people died, and many people are grieving. 48 - Nandar, a women’s rights activist and podcaster who fled Yangon and is now in hiding 189