A total of 49 people were arrested between November 2025 and the end of January 2026 for expressing their views online, according to a statement released by the Myanmar Internet Project (MIP). Of those detained, 29 were charged under election-related laws.
MIP reported that the three-month period coincided with preparations for what critics have described as a sham election. During that time, the military authorities conducted 24-hour monitoring of online speech related to the election and carried out arrests and legal action against individuals who posted or commented on the issue.
Among the high-profile cases were U Lwin Myint, a People’s Party candidate who referred to the 2021 uprising as a “revolution” while campaigning, and U Kyi Myo Zaw, also known as U Kyi, a street vendor who publicly criticized junta leader Min Aung Hlaing. Both were detained.
In another case, a senior monk from the Thathana Nwe Foundation and two lay assistants were arrested after posting on social media about a land dispute in the Taung Wine area of Mawlamyine. Observers say the incident underscores the continued decline of freedom of expression in the country.
Ko Thit Nyan, a representative of MIP, said the military authorities’ lack of respect for human rights, including freedom of expression, makes it unlikely that conditions will improve even after the election period.
“Arrests related to free expression are still ongoing. Although we have not recently observed new arrests under the election law, the military authorities do not respect human rights, so there is little reason to expect the situation to improve,” he said.
He added that pro-military lobbyists and nationalist activists posing as journalists are actively monitoring online platforms, collecting information, and sharing posts on Telegram channels to encourage authorities to carry out arrests.
MIP also noted that, in addition to surveillance and arrests during the election period, authorities imposed internet shutdowns and expanded the use of the Person Scrutinization and Monitoring System (PSMS).
Although more than three weeks have passed since the election was held, residents in Ye Township said they still do not feel safe speaking openly about election-related matters, armed clashes, or local human rights violations.
According to Data For Myanmar, 1,994 people were arrested between February 2022 and October 2025 over comments and posts made on social media platforms.
