Media Environment A vibrant media landscape is vital in securing free, fair, and inclusive elections. The media in Myanmar did their best to perform their duties during the 2020 Myanmar general elections, despite the challenges that they continue to face. Journalists still experience difficulties in accessing information and sources such as government agencies and political parties; several news websites were blocked ahead of the elections; and the restrictions in place to curb the spread of the new coronavirus have affected media in performing their duties. These come on top of legal prosecution risks for members of the media who report on sensitive issues. Legal Harassment of Journalists In the Press Freedom Index compiled by Paris-based media organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF, Reporters Without Borders), Myanmar has been described to be in a “difficult situation”, ranking 139 out of 180 countries surveyed in 2020. The country has been on a decline trend since 2018 when it dropped to 137 from its highest ranking of 131 in 2017 123. Rights group Athan published a report detailing 67 cases of legal prosecution against journalists. 124 Most cases were filed by the government or the military, and the Telecommunications Law was the most-often used legal text. Interviews conducted by the ANFREL mission highlighted that covering sensitive topics like land disputes, illegal drugs or timber trade, and ethnic violence remain challenging for the media in several parts of the country. Media have been cautious and sometimes resort to self-censorship in their reporting. In 2020 alone, several cases were brought against journalists for their coverage of armed conflicts and related issues. Among them are Voice of Myanmar editor U Ko Nay Lin 125 and Narinjara News chief editor U Khaing Mrat Kyaw 126 for publishing an interview with the spokesperson of governmentdesignated terrorist group the Arakan Army (AA), The Irrawaddy News editor U Ye Ni 127 for the coverage of armed clashes between the military and AA, and Reuters 128 for a story on the death of two Rohingya Muslim women as a result of shelling in Rakhine. Online news agency Dae Pyaw chief editor U Zaw Ye Thet was sentenced to two years in prison under Article 505(b) of the penal code for an article alleging that there had been a COVID-19 death in eastern Karen state. The story later turned out to be false but the editor has since apologized for the error. 129 Internet and Websites Blocking News websites have also been affected by a website blocking order in March 2020 which included the Development Media Group, Narinjara News 130, Mandalay In-Depth News, Mekong News, Voice 123 https://rsf.org/en/myanmar https://web.facebook.com/athan.foe.myanmar/posts/707268793165522 125 https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmars-special-branch-police-sue-editor-counter-terrorismlaw.html 126 https://cpj.org/2020/05/myanmar-editor-in-hiding-facing-terrorism-charges/ 127 https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-military-case-irrawaddy-editor-move-ahead.html 128 https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-myanmar-reuters/myanmar-army-sues-reuters-for-criminal-defamationpolice-idUKKBN20W1ZO 129 https://rsf.org/en/news/myanmar-journalist-jailed-two-years-reporting-covid-19-death 130 https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/operators-split-as-telenor-rejects-govt-order-to-block-fake-news-sites/ 124 47