Update on Journalism and Media in Myanmar
July - September 2023
registered in Myanmar in 2012. “During his trial, U Thaung Win, who is in his mid-50s,
testified that his involvement with The Irrawaddy was limited to the use of his name in applying
for a publishing licence, and that he wasn’t involved in the editorial process,” The Irrawaddy
reported.
The Irrawaddy was formally banned by the SAC in October 2022 and is among the 14 news
organisations whose licences have been revoked since the coup.
Releases
Kyaw Min Swe, former chief editor of the Voice journal, was released on 7 July after more
than two months in prison.
Arrested in April, he was charged with incitement under Section 505A of the Penal Code.
Kyaw Min Swe was arrested after changing his Facebook profile picture to black, following a
military airstrike in central Sagaing region that killed at least 165 people. His release came
while his trial was ongoing in a special court within the Insein prison compound.
His release brings the number of journalists freed from detention this year to 17, a number that
includes those freed under the amnesties that the SAC declared for Independence Day on 4
January and for Kason-Full Moon Day on 3 May.
Monitoring of Media Repression in Myanmar since the 2021 Coup
Media repression in 2023
Jan-Jun
Jul-Sep
Total
(updated figures)
(as of 30 Sep)
Journalists and news workers
Arrested
In detention/serving jail
5
3
57
8
59
sentences
Released
16
Died
Convicted
5
1
17
-
1
1
6
0
1
News and other licences
News licences cancelled
4