Tayzar San, a leading pro-democracy activist in Myanmar, has spent the past five years evading capture by the military junta that seized power in a 2021 coup. On December 3, he openly protested a military-organized election during a visit to a bustling market in Mandalay, urging residents to boycott the vote. He and fellow activists distributed leaflets condemning the election as a sham, noting that the main opposition parties were banned and voting was limited to areas controlled by the military.

Despite a substantial bounty on his head, Tayzar San escaped arrest that day as security forces moved in. However, several of his colleagues who participated in the demonstration were detained and later received lengthy prison sentences under a new election law enacted by the junta in July 2025. The law criminalizes speech and political activities deemed disruptive to the electoral process.

According to May Hnin, spokeswoman for the Mandalay chapter of the Anti-Junta Forces Coordination Committee, eight activists—including notable figure Htet Myat Aung—were sentenced to 37 years in prison, while a ninth received a 27-year sentence. The activists have chosen not to appeal, convinced that the verdicts are unlikely to be overturned.

These developments come as the military regime continues to portray itself internationally as a legitimate civilian government despite ongoing repression at home. Analysts and monitoring groups note an escalation rather than a reduction in crackdowns on civilians. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported that the military’s tactics throughout 2026 reflect an intensification of targeted arrests and bombings against unarmed populations, facilitated by expanded surveillance capabilities.

Human rights organizations estimate that some 14,600 political prisoners remain incarcerated in Myanmar, including at least 21 individuals sentenced under the election law. Reports allege that the military exploited detained activists’ phones to impersonate them and identify other pro-democracy supporters for arrest.

After the military’s overthrow of the elected government in February 2021, Myanmar plunged into a protracted civil conflict accompanied by severe economic decline due to international sanctions and internal instability. In an effort to secure diplomatic recognition and break international isolation, the junta held a parliamentary election in three phases between December 2025 and January 2026, resulting in a landslide victory for the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party.

In April, the legislature appointed coup leader Min Aung Hlaing as president, positioning him as the country’s official head of state. Despite widespread international condemnation and declarations that the election lacked legitimacy, this formal elevation enabled Min Aung Hlaing to conduct high-profile diplomatic visits to India and China in May and June, respectively.

To further project an image of normalized civilian governance, the regime announced in April that it had moved Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the country’s ousted civilian leader, to a form of house arrest, weakening her direct exposure to prison conditions. Nonetheless, pro-democracy activists contend that the junta has simultaneously intensified its suppression of dissent, targeting not only protesters but also their families and associates.

Tayzar San described systematic seizures of homes and property belonging to activists as punitive measures designed to deter opposition. He voiced concern that authorities would use torture against imprisoned comrades to extract information about his whereabouts and that the junta’s evolving surveillance techniques could eventually lead to his capture. Highlighting the rapid arrest of individuals involved in supporting protests, he said he understands his apprehension could come at any moment.