Update on Journalism and Media Safety in Myanmar [Jan – Mar 2026]
HIGHLIGHTS
In the first quarter of 2026, seven journalists were released under amnesty in March which was marked as Peasant’s Day. While the military junta made no new arrests during this period, one journalist was arrested by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin state and released after a day of detention. There was no new conviction. By the end of March 2026, 19 journalists remain in jail (As of April 17, after the release of documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe, the latest count of those still in prison is 18). Overall, 216 journalists have been arrested since the coup, with 18 remaining in detention and 13 have died. Of these fatalities, the military junta is responsible for nine and unidentified armed groups are responsible for four. There have been four documented incidents of journalists being arrested by resistance forces.
The most striking trend in early 2026 is the apparent decline in arrests of journalists that came along with orchestrated political change by the junta. On the surface, this could be interpreted as an improvement in press freedom conditions. However, the reduction in arrests reflects not a decrease in repression, but a shift in its form. Years of arrests, prosecutions, and harsh sentencing have already established a climate of fear.
Imprisoned photojournalist Myat Thu Kyaw has reportedly suffered physical violence while serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence in Insein Prison. The brief detention of editor Ta Lin Maung by the Kachin Independence Army underscores the recurring threats reporters face from non-state actors over their public commentary.
The military junta is using a fake “openness” to hide its ongoing crackdown on the press. While they have released some high-profile detainees and allowed restricted access to state-vetted international outlets, the regime is effectively using the press as aprop for its own legitimacy rather than a watchdog for the
public. In reality, the media is under heavy control in a new form; independent journalists face constant spying not just by military but also by pro-military journalists and civilian actors, the Myanmar Journalist Association (MJA) reinforces compliant journalist practices, and many reporters are quitting out of fear. This creates a dangerous situation where the truth is hidden, and the public can no longer access reliable information about what is actually happening in the country.
There was no new arrest by the military junta in the first quarter of 2026.
The most striking trend in early 2026 is the apparent decline in arrests of journalists that came along with orchestrated political change by the junta. On the surface, this could be interpreted as an improvement in press freedom conditions. However, the reduction in arrests reflects not a decrease in repression, but a shift in its form.
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