[Tee tiong huat]

Myanmar’s Internet Shutdowns: Silencing Resistance in the Battle for Connectivity. In the aftermath of Myanmar’s February 2021 military coup, the junta has weaponized internet shutdowns in-country, targeting resistance-controlled areas. By severing the opposition’s communication channels, the regime aims to stifle dissent, isolate these forces, and weaken the coordination of pro-democracy elements. The deliberate blackouts have profound implications not only for Myanmar citizens’ freedom of expression but also for the safety, livelihoods, and survival of affected communities.

The tactic of govts using internet shutdowns is neither new nor limited to Myanmar: Freedom House has uncovered its ubiquitous usage in countries across the democratic spectrum  The junta has aggressively deployed such tactics in Myanmar’s civil war, simultaneously with armed attacks. The Myanmar Internet Project has recorded 329 shutdowns since February 2021. Resistance-controlled areas, particularly Sagaing and Magwe regions and Kachin State, bear the brunt, as they are where some of the most intense fighting with the Myanmar army occurs. ATHAN reports that all 330 townships in Myanmar have experienced some form of communications blackout (meaning telephone and/or internet outages) since coup.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-...ivity.html