Mizzima awarded global JTI certificate for reliable news on Myanmar

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Mizzima Mizzima, one of Myanmar ’s most prominent news outlets and a press freedom advocate, obtained the Journalism Trust Initiative ( JTI ) certification from global audit firm Bureau Veritas , JTI says in a press statement 5 January.  Operating in clandestine mode within Myanmar and supported by an exiled team, Mizzima strives to fulfil its role as reliable source of news and information for the Myanmar public. “Your Journalism Trust Initiative certification affirms what audiences already know: that principled, transparent journalism matters. Congratulations on this achievement and on your continued contribution to informing citizens about Myanmar,” says Benjamin Sabbah , director of Journalism Trust Initiative “Myanmar’s ongoing conflict has created an intensely contested media landscape, where mis- and disinformation are increasingly deployed to reinforce state propaganda and the prevailing “official” narrative. Although Mizzima is already regarded as one of the most trusted ...
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Military families and civil servants pressured to vote for USDP in Mingaladon amid voting machine failures

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Mizzima

Military families and civil servants within the Mingaladon cantonment in Yangon were reportedly coerced by superior officers to cast their ballots for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) during the first phase of the national election on 28 December.

Military sources revealed that rehearsal sessions held prior to the vote included mandatory instructions and implied threats of consequences for those whose actions might cause “trouble” for their families.

One voter described selecting the USDP out of fear, noting that the similar appearance of party logos on the electronic voting machines added to the pressure to avoid making any “mistakes” that could be interpreted as defiance.

The election process in Mingaladon was further marred by significant technical issues, as electronic voting machines suffered malfunctions including unresponsive buttons and printer failures, causing delays of over two hours at several polling stations.

While state media attempted to project an image of orderly participation, ground observations indicated a tepid voter response, with many individuals only showing up late in the day after being warned by colleagues of potential repercussions for failing to vote. In residential wards, administrative officials used loudspeakers throughout the afternoon to urge a reluctant public to cast their ballots, highlighting the junta’s struggle to achieve high turnout in the commercial capital.

Despite the deployment of 144 polling stations across Mingaladon’s 27 wards and five village tracts, the overall atmosphere across Yangon remained tense and marked by low engagement from ordinary citizens.

This first phase of the election, which covered 12 townships in the Yangon Region, has been widely dismissed by domestic revolutionary forces and international observers as a “sham” designed to entrench military rule.

Reports of systemic coercion and technical instability underscore the challenges facing the junta as it prepares for the upcoming second and third phases of voting in January 2026.

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