Myanmar Junta Implements Communication Blackouts Across 80 Townships: Report

The communication blackout has particularly impacted all 17 townships in Rakhine, as well as significant portions of the Sagaing Region and Kayah State.

Staff Reporter

Mar 18, 2024, 08:21 AM2 min read

Myanmar Junta Implements Communication Blackouts Across 80 Townships: Report

Myanmar's internet freedom has been a concern, with last year's annual report by Washington-based Freedom House ranking the country as the second-worst globally, trailing only behind China.

The military junta in Myanmar has severed phone and internet connections in over 80 townships nationwide, according to a report by the Athan group, which defends free speech. The action, which aims to disperse opposition troops and hinder cooperation between them, demonstrates the regime's will to hold onto power in the face of mounting resistance.

Numerous areas of Myanmar have been affected by the communication outages; all 17 townships in Rakhine, 27 out of 34 townships in Sagaing Region, and five out of seven townships in Kayah State have been affected. Townships in the states of Shan, Chin, Kachin, and Mon were also listed, in addition to Tanintharyi, Magwe, Bago, and Ayeyarwady areas. While the majority of townships lost phone service as well as internet access, in certain areas just mobile internet was banned, with weak or sluggish connections remaining in other locations.
Tensions have increased even further as a result of the ongoing conflict in northern Rakhine State with the Arakan Army. The Arakan Army has taken control of nine towns, 180 junta bases, and the whole Paletwa Township in southern Chin State since November of last year. The junta's decision to step up communication outages in an effort to quell opposition and keep control over the impacted areas is partly due to this dispute.
The shutdowns have caused a considerable slowdown in the flow of trustworthy news from Rakhine State, which makes it difficult to confirm incidents and disseminate correct information. Furthermore, the interruptions in communication have resulted in the cessation of banking services and online financial transactions. According to Athan, the junta's purposeful repression is meant to obscure information flow and break connections with revolutionary operations, which will make the problems facing anti-regime forces even more severe.

The gravity of the problem is shown by the fact that Myanmar was ranked in last year's annual study by Washington-based Freedom House as the second worst country behind China for internet freedom. The struggle for communication rights is still crucial to Myanmar's democratic movement, as the country's inhabitants struggle with limited access to information and anti-regime groups carry on their fight against the cruel military rule.

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