The country’s junta government has cut off internet and phone connections in about 80 cities in Myanmar. On Friday, the Myanmar media “The Irrawaddy” published this news citing the freedom of expression organization “Athan”. According to reports, both internet and phone lines are down in most of the cities. The rest of the cities have mobile internet but the speed is very poor.
According to the report, all the communications in 17 cities of Rakhine have been cut off. In addition, 27 of the 34 towns in Sagaing Region and five of the seven towns in Kayah State are among the secessions. Internet and telephone services are also down in Shan, Chin, Kachin and Mon states and towns in Taninthari, Magwe, Bago and Ayeyarwady regions.
The Arakan Army has been fighting the junta across northern Rakhine state since November last year. They captured about 180 junta bases, nine towns and the entire city of Paletwa in South Chin state.
Athan said military-owned telecoms provider Mytel operated in Rakhine’s capital, Sittwe, until February 16. Then all Wi-Fi and mobile internet services are turned off.
But two Rakhine residents told The Irrawaddy that junta-owned telecoms operations Mytel and MPT operated in Sittwe on Thursday. A resident said phone lines have been restored in some areas but there is no internet connection. Athan said banking services and online financial transfers were halted due to internet disconnection.
Athan also said that the disconnection was a tactic of the junta government to suppress anti-regime forces. It is clear that the junta government is deliberately repressing the population in order to conceal the flow of information and to cut ties with revolutionary activities.
Last year, an annual report by the Washington-based Freedom House ranked Myanmar as the second worst country for internet freedom after China.