Mizzima-Nov 7
On 4 November, Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun addressed the UN General Assembly in New York, stating that Myanmar’s military junta has “weaponized information and communication technologies” to suppress dissent and manipulate narratives. His statement is as follows: Myanmar aligns itself with the statements of ASEAN and the Group of 77 and China. The 2025 report of the Committee on Information (A/80/21) and the Secretary-General’s report (A/80/323) have once again underscored the urgency of safeguarding the global information ecosystem against the proliferation of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. They highlighted the growing challenges posed by the malicious use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, and reaffirmed the need to protect journalists, uphold freedom of expression, and close the digital divide. Myanmar strongly supports the call to strengthen information integrity as reflected in the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity and the Pact for the Future’s Global Digital Compact, which seek to foster an inclusive, safe, and secure digital environment that respects human rights. While many parts of the world are advancing towards open and safe digital spaces, Myanmar’s information environment remains under siege. Since the illegal coup in February 2021, the military junta has systematically weaponized information and communication technologies to suppress dissent and manipulate narratives. Over 200 journalists have been arrested, and 51 remain unjustly detained, and some journalists were killed by the military junta. Independent media outlets have been forced into exile or completely shut down, while those still operating inside the country are under strict control of the junta and prohibited from using any expression or terminology that the military disapproves. In Myanmar today, media freedom is totally and effectively collapsed, and there is no space for free or independent journalism. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2025/11/07/27988
