Statement by the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM)
Regarding Arbitrarily Detained Journalists
Date: 19 January, 2026.
Nearly five years after the military coup in 2021, more than 200 journalists have been arrested. During this period, between a minimum of over 30 and a maximum of around 60 journalists have been detained at various prisons across the country. As of 15 January 2026, a total of twenty-seven (27) journalists remain imprisoned, including five (5) women journalists.
Among those currently detained are fourteen (14) journalists who have been sentenced to long prison terms, including life imprisonment. These sentences range from life imprisonment to a minimum of ten (10) years. The remaining journalists are serving prison sentences ranging from a minimum of three (3) years to ten (10) years.
Between February 2021 and January 2026, seven (7) journalists were killed due to torture and abuses carried out by the military authorities. All of these journalists died in connection with their professional work while carrying out journalistic activities.
From February 2021 to January 2026, nearly 180 journalists have been arbitrarily arrested and prosecuted by the military authorities under a wide range of laws, including Sections 505(a) and 505(b) of the Penal Code, Section 124(a) of the Penal Code, Section 17(1) of the Unlawful Associations Act, Section 66(d) of the Telecommunications Law, the Immigration Act, the Export and Import Law, Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, Section 27 of the Natural Disaster Management Law, and provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law. Among these, Sections 505(a), 505(b), and provisions of the Counter-Terrorism Law have been the most frequently used to prosecute journalists.
In addition, the military authorities have revoked the operating licenses of fifteen (15) media outlets and unilaterally amended media-related laws affecting the journalism sector.
Over the five-year period from 2021 to 2026, media repression by the military authorities has intensified significantly, directly undermining press freedom. Journalists and media organizations are no longer able to operate under the basic guarantees of freedom of expression and press freedom. Myanmar has now become one of the countries experiencing the most severe violations and repression of press freedom globally.
Freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not only essential to the media sector, but are also vital to the establishment of a future federal democratic state. In order to protect and promote press freedom and freedom of expression, and to ensure that journalists can carry out their work freely and safely, the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) calls on all relevant entities to take these issues seriously.
Most importantly, IPCM strongly condemns the arrest, imprisonment, torture, and killing of journalists and calls for accountability for all such violations.
Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM)
Contact Information
1. Ko Ko Zaw (Signal: +95 925 580 3262)
2. Toe Zaw Latt (Signal: +66 806 834 240)