Myanmar photojournalist reportedly assaulted in prison

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 29 January 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

Veteran photojournalist Myat Thu Kyaw, jailed in 2023 for covering anti-junta protests, was reportedly assaulted in Yangon's Insein Prison, sustaining serious facial and limb injuries, prompting CPJ and other groups to demand his humanitarian release.

Summary

YANGON —Veteran Myanmar photojournalist Myat Thu Kyaw, who has been imprisoned since 2023 for covering anti-junta protests, was reportedly physically assaulted inside Yangon’s Insein Prison, according to press freedom advocates. The incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by journalists detained under Myanmar’s military rule following the 2021 coup.

Reports indicate that Myat Thu Kyaw sustained serious injuries to his face and limbs during the assault while in custody. Details surrounding the circumstances of the attack remain limited, but the reported injuries have raised urgent humanitarian concerns among international media watchdogs.

Committee to Protect Journalists calls for release

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the reported assault and called on Myanmar’s authorities to immediately release Myat Thu Kyaw on humanitarian grounds. CPJ said the attack highlighted the personal dangers journalists continue to face even after imprisonment, particularly those detained for documenting public dissent.

Myanmar’s military government has detained dozens of journalists since seizing power, using broadly defined security laws to criminalize independent reporting. Insein Prison, where many political detainees are held, has long been associated with harsh conditions and allegations of mistreatment, although authorities routinely deny such claims.

Detention of journalists under military rule

Myat Thu Kyaw was jailed after covering anti-junta protests, a charge that aligns with a wider pattern of arrests targeting reporters, photographers, and editors documenting opposition to military rule. Press freedom groups say these detentions are intended to suppress independent information and deter coverage of protests and armed resistance.

International rights organizations continue to urge Myanmar’s authorities to respect basic protections for detainees and to end the imprisonment of journalists for their work. Calls for accountability have intensified as reports of abuse and deteriorating health conditions among jailed media workers persist.

WHY THIS MATTERS: The case highlights the extreme risks journalists face in authoritarian environments, including physical harm even after arrest. For Pakistani media professionals, it underscores the importance of legal preparedness, safety training, and sustained international advocacy when press freedom comes under pressure. It also illustrates how global solidarity among media organizations can amplify protection efforts for journalists at risk.

ATTRIBUTION: Committee to Protect Journalists and publicly available reports.

PHOTO: By AAMIJ News; image distributed by the Committee to Protect Journalists