After several international social media outlets were blocked in Myanmar, netizens were able to find another way. Now, the military coup has sparked the first major protest, with the junta cutting off internet communications nationwide.
On Saturday (Feb. 6), thousands of Burmese took to the streets of Yangon to denounce this week’s military coup and demand the release of democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The Burmese military government cut off internet communications in the face of the first mass demonstration since the seizure of power.
Protesters chanted, “No military dictatorship; democracy will prevail,” and held banners with the words “No to military dictatorship. Onlookers gave them Food and water to show their support. Many of the demonstrators wore red, representing the colors of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). The party won a landslide victory in last year’s Nov. 8 general election. Myanmar’s military, for its part, has refused to recognize the election results, accusing the election of fraud.
“Near-total disconnect”
Reuters reports that Myanmar’s internet has been cut off as protests have expanded and protesters have continued to call for people to join marches online. Netblocks, a U.K.-based Internet watchdog, tweeted on Saturday, “Myanmar is in a state of near-total internet disconnection. Network data shows the country’s internet connection has dropped to 16 percent of normal levels since 2 p.m. local Time.” Witnesses have reported that mobile data and Wi-Fi services in the country have also been shut down.
Myanmar’s military government has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comment. Earlier, the Burmese military temporarily blocked Facebook , and on Saturday extended its crackdown on social media to include Twitter and Instagram.
Myanmar authorities have ordered Internet providers to deny users access to Twitter and Instagram “until further notice,” said Telenor Asa of Norway. Many Internet users have circumvented the ban by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to hide their location. However, the disruption of mobile data services will make it difficult for people to access information.
The fight goes on
“#HearTheVoiceofMyanmar,” “#SaveMyanmar,” and other hashtags to attract attention.
Twitter user Maw Htun Aung wrote, “The internet may be down, but we won’t stop speaking out. Let’s fight peacefully for democracy and freedom. Let’s fight for the future until the last moment.”
Burmese civil society organizations called on Internet providers and mobile operators to challenge the junta’s order to block the network. A federation of civil society organizations issued a statement saying, “Complying with their directive means that your companies are supporting the legitimacy of the junta’s rule despite international condemnation of it.”
Telenor Norway has previously said it complied with the directive because “it is based on Burmese law,” but has also stressed that the directive is contrary to international human rights law.
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