The military council’s Minister of Information Maung Maung Ohn strongly criticized artists’ political involvement during a meeting in Yangon regarding the screening of films. He stated that some artists had mistakenly engaged in party politics instead of focusing on their artistic work, which led to undesirable consequences for the state. The minister made these remarks during a coordination meeting for film screenings held yesterday in Yangon.
According to the minister, artists have a responsibility not only to entertain the public but also to provide knowledge and guidance toward what he called the ‘right path.’ He emphasized that since movie theaters are places where people gather and seek entertainment, it is important that they be used to convey government policies and information to the public. The military council’s information minister further instructed film organizations to ensure that content shown to the public aligns with the state’s messaging objectives.
Following the military coup in 2021, the military council has implemented increasingly strict controls over the film industry and entertainment sector, reinstating censorship systems and imposing restrictions on artistic freedom. The regime has been actively monitoring and controlling creative content, requiring artists to comply with military council policies and warning them against participation in political activities. This represents a significant tightening of control over cultural expression and artistic freedom in Myanmar, with the military council attempting to use the entertainment industry as a channel for propagating its messages while suppressing dissenting voices and political expression through art.
