Myanmar Activists Sentenced to Up to 37 Years in Mandalay Over Election Boycott Protest
Nine Myanmar activists were sentenced to up to 37 years in prison in Mandalay after a December 2025 flash protest calling for an election boycott, international rights groups say.
Eight activists, including prominent organiser Htet Myat Aung, were handed 37-year sentences by two Mandalay courts on July 28, 2026, an activist coordination committee said.
A ninth protester received a 27‑year term after being convicted under the counterterrorism law, the group’s spokesperson told reporters.
The convictions follow arrests made on December 4, 2025, a day after the demonstrators held a downtown rally urging voters to shun elections scheduled between December 25, 2025 and January 25, 2026.
Sentencing Details and Court Findings
The Mandalay rulings applied both the electoral law and the counterterrorism statute to the nine defendants, according to May Hnin of the Anti‑Junta Forces Coordination Committee‑Mandalay.
Court documents and the activist group indicated that the heavier 37‑year sentences were imposed on eight protesters who were seen as organising and inciting the boycott.
The ninth defendant was convicted solely under the counterterrorism law and received a reduced 27‑year sentence.
Charges Cited by Authorities
Prosecutors relied on provisions introduced under a 2025 electoral law that criminalises acts deemed to “destroy a part of the electoral process,” a measure adopted in July 2025.
The law carries a broad range of penalties, extending in some cases to the death penalty, and has been criticised by rights organisations for vague language and disproportionate punishments.
Officials in Mandalay have not issued a public comment on the recent sentences, and it was unclear whether formal legal reasoning would be released to the defence or the public.
Context of the December 2025 Protest
The defendants were detained on December 4, 2025, after staging a brief downtown demonstration that urged the public to reject mandatory conscription and boycott the military‑backed polls.
Their action came ahead of national elections held from December 25, 2025 to January 25, 2026, which were dominated by the Union Solidarity and Development Party and excluded major opposition figures.
Opponents and independent observers earlier criticised those polls as neither free nor fair, asserting that the political environment and legal restrictions heavily favoured the military‑backed administration.
Reactions from Anti‑Junta Groups and Activists
May Hnin described the sentences as a deliberate attempt by the military authorities to instill fear and suppress dissent ahead of national voting.
She said the activists would not lodge appeals because they do not believe an appeal would alter the outcomes under the current judicial and political framework.
Human rights advocates outside Myanmar have similarly warned that the convictions signal a broader crackdown on peaceful dissent and civic mobilisation.
Broader Legal and Political Implications
Since the adoption of the 2025 electoral law, more than 200 people have been charged under its provisions in the run‑up to the December poll, rights monitors report.
The combination of new electoral restrictions and counterterrorism measures has heightened concerns that ordinary political expression could be prosecuted as a national security offence.
Legal analysts say the use of harsh criminal statutes in politically sensitive cases risks deepening polarisation and further shrinking the space for peaceful political opposition.
Domestic and International Observers’ Positions
Domestic opposition groups, which were largely marginalised from the December 2025 elections, have consistently argued that the military‑backed vote lacks legitimacy.
International observers and rights organisations have documented restrictions on media, assembly and political activity that they say undermined the electoral process.
Diplomats have expressed concern about sentences that appear aimed at deterring future protests, though public comments from states and multilateral bodies vary and have not led to concrete changes on the ground.
The sentencing of the nine activists in Mandalay marks one of the most severe recent examples of Myanmar’s use of broad electoral and counterterrorism laws against peaceful protesters.
Rights groups and activists say the prison terms are intended to suppress dissent and consolidate control, while the authorities maintain that the laws are needed to protect the integrity of the electoral process.