I read an article detailing a journalist's escape from his oppressive environment in Myanmar (f.k/a Burma).
While similar scenarios could happen in almost every country on earth, they probably happen more frequently in Myanmar. The details are probably particular to the individual countries.
For the US, they'd likely be learning Russian with Edward Snowden. But one feature of Myanmar stands out. Myanmar's Deep State has to figure out where these people are located, while in the US, for example, the Deep State could just refer to the current data as gleaned from their illegal spying on their own citizens. Thus the US Deep State can spend more time figuring out how to harm its citizens, or at least the ones it doesn't like (currently, half the nation).
The US wants to keep Myanmar in the dark on technology for spying on their citizens. Three new Myanmar organizations were added to a US blacklist.
Their names all suggest companies that help the government spy on its own people. Sorry, Myanmar, no new local spying abilities for you. You'll just have to bring Hunter in so that Joe can earn his 10%.
I also thought of a way for Myanmar's government to come to terms with its journalists. But, contemplating the matter, Myanmar isn't ready for something like this yet. Opponents in the country will have to start at the beginning with building trust with each other. The best place for this is with the impending elections.
Don't worry about impressing foreign nations. Virtually every nation on earth has election manipulators who could teach college level courses on defrauding elections. They're just trying to sound sanctimonious on this. The real concern is with the local people.
Trust doesn't happen over night. Develop systems that will help keep Myanmar's elections fair.
My suggestion: Develop local election observers and administrators. Have the central government, and local governments, choose administrators who are encouraged to be fair. Under these, as temporary workers, hire two types of election observers, both with the same duties and responsibilities. One group can only observe in areas that their political party of preference is formally registered. The other group of observers would be from the general public, not declaring themselves as reporting to or being affiliated with any one political party. While only temporary workers, pay them well. Do a full screening of them, and, upon finishing their election duties, offer them appropriate job opportunities as government workers, such work to be optional, but pre-qualified by their election-season work.