A woman journalist (#5) recounted how she disguised the purpose of her WhatsApp group as a food recipe group. This incident also demonstrates the perception that women are considered less suspicious: Two soldiers [were] on a motorbike, they stopped me and checked my phone. They asked me to unlock it, and notifications from a WhatsApp group appeared. They asked, “What was that?” Our group name was “Burmese Salad.” I told them it was a food recipe group. Then they didn’t look further into it and checked my gallery. Luckily, it only had photos of my kids, as it was my personal phone. If I had been carrying another phone [work phone], I would have been in trouble. The third and final aspect of maintaining normalcy lies in managing emotions to mirror the demeanour of ordinary citizens. This aspect is crucial, as it involves disciplining oneself to not only avoid suspicious activities, such as hesitating while covertly filming or recording, but also to maintain composure under the intense emotional pressure of military inspections. Stress management, therefore, has become a vital security practice for journalists in Myanmar. Instances like that of Journalist #2, who had to hastily dispose of materials or memory cards, illustrate the need to swiftly return to a state of calm. Manner of speech is also critical. Journalist #6 emphasises the importance of projecting confidence, which can be in the form of blending in as a local citizen and adopting a congenial approach towards military officers: 37

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