Myanmar Spring Chronicle – View from September 23
(MoeMaKa, September 24, 2025)
ULA/AA detains a female journalist in Maungdaw, Rakhine State
The United League of Arakan/Arakan Army (ULA/AA), which controls parts of Rakhine State, detained female journalist Ma Mudra in Maungdaw. ULA/AA intelligence personnel took her from her home on September 20; as of September 23 she had not been released, according to the editor-in-chief of Border News Agency, where she works.
This marks the second known case of a resistance armed group detaining journalists from independent media not under any party or government. The first was in September last year, when the KIA in Hpakant held two reporters—one freelance and one from Red News Agency—for about a month.
By contrast, the coup regime has repeatedly raided newsrooms, arrested journalists, and beaten or tortured them—some to death—over the past four to five years; around three dozen journalists remain imprisoned. While such repression by a military dictatorship is sadly unsurprising, it is shocking to see resistance forces begin detaining reporters or accusing them of being informants, even when those outlets have generally covered the Spring Revolution sympathetically and sometimes overstepped standard media ethics in its favor.
As resistance groups expand territorial control, collect resource and customs revenues, and take on more administration, their accountability burdens grow—and with that, scrutiny of the media has increased, leading to detentions and interrogations. Earlier this year, an article on oil-well levy revenues in the Dry Zone drew heavy criticism. Some argued the media shouldn’t criticize the NUG, or claimed such reporting might provoke junta airstrikes.
Similar revenue growth from gold mines, minerals, and timber is occurring elsewhere. During the earlier phase—when there was little governance—there was no media monitoring; but as governance and resource management by armed groups has expanded, critical reporting has become unwelcome.
In the current Maungdaw case, some major outlets repeated the detaining group’s vague justification as a headline—“violating the rules of war”—without specific evidence. Another large outlet avoided the word “arrest,” saying she was “questioned,” which is also noteworthy.
In struggles to end military dictatorship—whether by arms or other means—press freedom plays a vital role. Respecting that freedom is essential if those who govern are to be accountable to the public. Historically, authorities engage warmly with the press when coverage aligns with their interests; but once they gain power to govern, many grow intolerant of reporting that demands accountability.