A damning new report by the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) has revealed the Myanmar military's relentless and systematic campaign against journalists following its February 2021 coup. The four-year study, released this week, documents arbitrary detentions, torture, sham trials, and extreme prison sentences aimed at silencing independent media voices.

According to ICNL, at least 221 journalists were detained between February 2021 and February 2025, with 51 still behind bars as of this February. Of those detained, 88 were convicted, receiving a combined 497 years in prison, with some individuals sentenced to as long as 27 years.

The report highlights the junta’s use of nine different laws—chief among them charges related to “false news” and “incitement”—to suppress press freedom. Nearly 70% of arrests were directly linked to journalists’ work, and many faced torture, arbitrary detention, and lack of due process. Three journalists were reportedly tortured to death in custody.

While women made up a smaller portion of detainees, the report noted they experienced higher conviction rates and faced gender-based discrimination.

ICNL's findings also show that 99 media outlets, including both pro-democracy and pro-military organizations, were impacted. Many have seen a decline in morale and operational capacity, with some continuing to report underground or from exile.

Despite the repression, Myanmar’s journalists persist. “Journalists remain bravely committed to building a robust information ecosystem for a public desperately seeking the truth,” the report emphasizes.

ICNL is calling on the United Nations and donor governments to intensify support for journalists, nullify military-era legal amendments, and back long-term reforms to restore media freedom in Myanmar.

The report concludes with a grave warning: without international action and domestic reform, the military will continue to weaponize the legal system to suppress dissent and control the narrative.

BOB Post