New election law hinders media freedom: independent press council

By Admin 08 Aug 2025

DMG Newsroom

8 August 2025, Mrauk-U

The Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM) on Friday released a statement condemning the recently enacted law on the Protection of Multiparty Democratic General Elections from Obstruction, Disruption, and Destruction as a severe threat to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Myanmar's military regime on July 29 enacted the election-related law, which carries prison sentences and even the death penalty for opponents of the poll who violate the law's provisions.

The law stipulates that anyone who directly or indirectly threatens, harasses, obstructs, or intentionally causes grievous bodily harm to prevent candidates from campaigning, prevent any voter from voting, or prevent polling station staff and election commission members from carrying out their duties during election campaign can be sentenced to three to 20 years in prison, depending on the infraction.

"I understand that if the media outlets' writings interfere with this election, they will be subject to action under this law," IPCM Chairwoman Nan Paw Gay told DMG. "Except for the media outlets that write in a manner that promotes the military regime, it will hinder the independent media outlets that are critical of the regime. For independent journalists and media outlets, an election-related law by the military regime is a threat."

The law also violates and threatens the public's right to freedom of expression, the IPCM said. IPCM stated that a subsequent cybersecurity law enacted by the military regime on July 30 also violates the digital rights of the Myanmar people.

The cybersecurity law expands the junta's authority to take action against political opponents, journalists, and the free expression and dissemination of information by the public, the IPCM said in strongly opposing it.

"The military regime's continued repeal of the Law to Protect the Privacy and Security of Citizens is a failure to protect the human rights and civil liberties of its citizens," said Nan Paw Gay. "If the people do not cooperate with the elections being organised by the military regime, it gives the military the power to summon, investigate, and arrest them, thus posing a challenge to the freedom and security of the people. For these reasons, the media's continued repeal of these provisions is a result of the suffering of the people."

The IPCM also said the existing junta-appointed Myanmar Press Council (MPC) only represents the interests of the military leadership and does not protect the interests of the 37 Myanmar journalists still arbitrarily detained in prisons, nor the interests of independent Myanmar media outlets, nor ultimately the free and safe production of news.

"The real people in the MPC are retired military officers and cadres who lobby for the military regime," said a journalist based in Arakan State. "I see it as an organisation that has done nothing for independent media outlets for more than four years after the military seized power."

The military regime's plan to hold elections is aimed solely at consolidating state power and prolonging its existence, without benefiting Myanmar's democratic development, the IPCM statement said.

The IPCM is a coalition of 40 independent Myanmar news outlets, independent Myanmar journalists, media experts, and legal scholars.