Discussion takes complaints about dwindling free speech online

By Admin 15 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
15 June 2023, Sittwe

Freedom of expression has declined steeply since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, according to research by human rights activists from the advocacy group Athan, which organised an online discussion on the consequences of those fading freedoms on Wednesday.

Freedom of expression has deteriorated over the past two-plus years as the military regime continues to target those who freely voice their opinions about politics or other topics, Athan and discussion participants noted.

“Innocent people dare not sleep well at night as the regime keeps an eye on those who criticise [it] and makes arrests,” said Ma Lin Latt Suu of Generation Wave, who took part in the discussion. “They live in fear that they could get arrested anytime.”

Netizens too have lost their right to express themselves freely online as the regime imposes restrictions politically, bends the law to put dissidents behind bars, and exploits technologies to impose censorship, say activists. 

The regime has also revoked the licences of independent media reporting factually on the situation of Myanmar since the coup. It has also charged and jailed several journalists.

People are losing access to credible information due to the junta's various restrictions, said Ko Myo Set Hla Thaw, a freelance war documentary photographer who participated in the discussion.

“[The Myanmar military] used cars to ram into journalists to arrest them. It has been making continuous moves to impose news blackouts,” said Ko Myo Set Hla Thaw.

Since the coup on February 1, 2021, the regime has revoked the licences of 15 news agencies including DVB, Mizzima, Myanmar Now, and Khit Thit, as well as four publishing houses and two printing presses.

Besides restrictions on free speech, the regime also cuts off electricity and internet access to impede the flow of information as it carries out more campaigns against its own people, activists allege.

Ma Oo Myar Htwe from the social welfare group Nway Oo Guru Lay Myar, who also participated in the discussion, said: “As a consequence of internet shutdowns, we students have a lot of difficulties attending online classes. In our area, the information flow is severely restricted due to lack of access to the internet.”

Last year, Myanmar was the world’s second worst jailer of journalists, after China, according to the International Federation of Journalists.