Free Expression in Myanmar

The Issue

Since the February 2021 coup, the state of free expression in Myanmar has rapidly deteriorated. Prior to the military’s seizure of power, Myanmar already ranked among the world’s top 10 jailers of writers, poets, and public intellectuals, and the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party had proved hostile to dissident voices and independent journalism, had failed to reform a swathe of repressive laws that criminalized a wide range of peaceful expression, and had restricted access to news and information via lengthy internet shutdowns. These threats and challenges to free expression serve as an alarming backdrop to the dramatic escalation of human rights abuses carried out by the military junta—a stunning reversal of the hope instilled by the historic NLD election victory in 2015.

Under military rule, journalists, writers, poets, other creative artists, and public intellectuals have been targeted and detained for spurious national security crimes such as “incitement” and “treason,” while dozens more have been arrested as part of a violent crackdown against sustained country-wide protests. Meanwhile, authorities have restricted basic communication with a whitelisted internet and have ramped up cybersurveillance. Media are under threat as Myanmar has revoked press licenses, banned satellite TV, and raided newsrooms. Despite these grave risks, individuals continue to engage in free and creative expression and cover the news, either from within the country or from exile.