Myanmar Junta Accused of Waging Disinformation Campaign to Mask War Crimes
The shadow National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar has accused the ruling military junta of orchestrating a widespread disinformation campaign aimed at concealing its extensive human rights abuses and war crimes. This campaign, utilizing state-controlled media, online platforms, and a network of lobbyists, seeks to undermine the credibility of the resistance movement and shift blame for the country’s escalating crisis.
The junta’s disinformation tactics were starkly illustrated in the aftermath of an airstrike on a school in Sagaing Region’s Tabayin Township, which tragically resulted in the deaths of two teachers and 22 students, injuring approximately 40 others. Despite overwhelming evidence implicating the junta, its lobbyists actively disseminated a fabricated narrative alleging that the People’s Defence Force (PDF) were constructing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) within the school, thereby causing the explosion. This false narrative was strategically amplified through coordinated efforts to flood comment sections of media reports, a common tactic employed by junta-linked operatives on platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and increasingly, Facebook.
Following the 2021 coup, Facebook initially implemented measures to curb the junta’s disinformation campaigns. However, with the hypothetical return of Donald Trump to the US presidency in 2025 and a subsequent rollback of content moderation policies (a hypothetical scenario presented in the original text), the junta’s supporters have exploited this relaxed environment to resurrect their disinformation efforts on the platform. According to U Toe Zaw Latt, secretary of the Independent Press Council Myanmar (IPCM), the absence of a dedicated team to monitor and block disinformation has created a void that the junta is readily exploiting.
The junta’s disinformation campaign extends beyond deflecting responsibility for its atrocities. It also involves systematically blaming the resistance movement for the country’s deteriorating infrastructure and economic woes. Pro-junta lobbyists routinely accuse PDF members of destroying roads, bridges, and electricity towers, attributing disruptions in transportation, rising prices, and power outages to their actions. This calculated strategy aims to sow discord among the public and erode support for the revolution.
Countering the junta’s disinformation campaign poses a significant challenge due to the regime’s strict control over online speech. Surveillance of online posts and harsh penalties, including imprisonment, for dissenting views create a climate of fear and self-censorship. Despite these obstacles, Captain Zin Yaw, a former military officer who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), urged those opposing the junta to actively debunk the falsehoods propagated by pro-junta lobbyists. He emphasized the need for respected voices within the Spring Revolution, such as academics, intellectuals, and artists, to engage in the information war and expose the junta’s deceitful nature.
The long-term impact of the junta’s disinformation campaign remains a concern. Some observers warn that the relentless propaganda, if left unchecked, could gradually erode public support for the revolution. Nai Naga, spokesperson for the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), stressed the importance of treating information warfare with the same seriousness as conventional combat. He cautioned that unchecked disinformation could lead to a decline in public trust and erode the foundation of the resistance movement. The NUG has pledged to take legal action against those spreading disinformation and has called upon the international community, including the United Nations, to exert pressure on the junta to halt its atrocities and disinformation campaign. The ongoing struggle in Myanmar is not just a fight for democracy and human rights, but also a battle against a pervasive and insidious campaign of disinformation that threatens to undermine the very fabric of truth and justice.