4 | A REPRESSIVE ENVIRONMENT DEVOID OF FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS Credible elections rest on building blocks, among which are the fundamental freedoms of assembly, association, expression, information, and political participation. Since the military takeover, these rights have been systematically infringed upon, and the citizens of Myanmar are facing restrictive laws and widespread repression. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 29,704 people have been arrested between the coup and 19 September 2025, and 22,427 remain in detention. At least 651 people were killed and 1,600 were arrested during demonstrations in the six months following the coup, violating the fundamental right to peaceful assembly. The NGO Data for Myanmar reports that 1,884 people have been arrested for social media posts or online communications expressing support for Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement. The junta has set up a committee monitoring online content around the clock, and the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), used by many to protect their identity, has been banned, further attacking freedom of speech. In October 2022, the junta enacted the Organisation Registration Law, requiring all non-governmental organizations to be registered under a strict legal framework and introducing disproportionate penalties for non-compliance, including significant fines, jail time, and confiscation of assets. The law uses broad language to restrict NGO activities and mandates invasive monitoring by authorities, severely curtailing freedom of association. The junta has also weaponized the counter-terrorism law (amended in 2021 and 2023) and cybersecurity law (enacted in 21