18 journalists remain detained in Myanmar, Athan reports

By Admin 20 Oct 2026

DMG Newsroom

20 October 2026, Yangon

Eighteen journalists remained in detention across Myanmar as of September 30, including 17 held by the military regime and one by an unidentified armed group, according to Athan, a Myanmar-based freedom of expression advocacy organisation.

Athan recorded no new journalist arrests, releases or deaths during the third quarter of 2026.

Since the military coup in February 2021, 230 journalists have been arrested, 188 released and 13 killed, according to the organisation's monitoring data.

The military was responsible for 222 arrests, approximately 97 percent of the total, while eight were attributed to other armed groups.

Of the 17 journalists held by the military, three are serving life sentences, three received prison terms of 15 to 20 years, five were sentenced to between 10 and 13 years, and four received sentences ranging from five to eight and a half years. Two others are awaiting sentencing.

Athan reported that 15 of the 17 journalists detained by the military have faced charges under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

The crackdown has also affected Development Media Group (DMG), an independent news organisation covering Arakan (Rakhine) State in western Myanmar.

On October 29, 2023, junta personnel arrested DMG reporter Ko Htet Aung and forced him to lead them to the organisation's newsroom in Sittwe, the state capital, where they arrested security guard Ko Soe Win Aung.

Security forces confiscated cameras, computers, editing equipment, documents and cash intended for staff salaries before sealing the office.

Both men were denied family visits during their initial detention and taken to a military interrogation centre at least twice.

On June 28, 2024, the Sittwe Township Court sentenced each man to five years in prison with hard labour under Section 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law.

The prosecution stemmed from a DMG report concerning calls for justice on the sixth anniversary of the military's 2017 crackdown on Muslims in Arakan.

Following their transfer to Pathein Prison in Ayeyarwady Region, both men received additional five-year sentences under Section 96 of the Broadcasting Law on December 19, 2024, bringing their total prison terms to 10 years each.

Both remain imprisoned at Pathein Prison, where they have experienced health problems. Details of their current conditions remain unclear. Ko Soe Win Aung previously underwent abdominal surgery.

The military authorities also brought legal cases against 18 other DMG employees under the Counter-Terrorism Law.

Although no new journalist arrests were recorded during the third quarter, the continued imprisonment of media workers highlights the threats facing independent journalism and press freedom in Myanmar.