Statement on World Press Freedom Day, May 3
On this World Press Freedom Day, the Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) urgently states that press freedom in Myanmar remains in an extremely dire state.
Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar has become the second-worst country in the world for the imprisonment of journalists, according to multiple international reports.
According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Myanmar ranks 169 out of 180 countries. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) also lists Myanmar as the third-worst country globally for jailing journalists as of 2025.
The military regime’s continued internet shutdowns, arrests, and killings of journalists constitute serious violations of press freedom and directly obstruct the public’s right to access information.
Following the powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, the junta severely restricted internet access and denied entry to international journalists, further exposing its intention to silence coverage of the real situation on the ground. These actions were condemned not only by IMJA but also observed and criticized by the United Nations, foreign governments, and international organizations.
Since the coup, over 200 journalists have been arrested, with 47 still detained in prisons across the country, and 7 journalists have been killed by the junta.
The arbitrary detention of journalists and systematic efforts to block news gathering are blatant violations of human rights that blind the public to the truth.
Therefore, on this World Press Freedom Day, the Independent Myanmar Journalists Association (IMJA) calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned journalists.
We also urge all organizations and authorities to respect and uphold journalists’ right to gather information and the fundamental freedom of the press.
