YANGON, Myanmar (AP) – Myanmar’s new military government has blocked access to Facebook as resistance to Monday’s coup rose amid calls for civil disobedience to protest the ouster of the elected civilian government and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Facebook is especially popular in Myanmar and the ousted government had routinely made public announcements on social media.
Internet users said the outage began on Wednesday night and mobile service provider Telenor Myanmar confirmed in a statement that mobile phone operators and Internet service providers in Myanmar had received a directive from the communications ministry to temporarily block Facebook.
Telenor Myanmar, which is part of Telenor’s Norwegian group, said it would comply, although it was concerned the order was a human rights violation.
“Myanmar’s telecommunications providers have been ordered to temporarily block Facebook. We urge the authorities to restore connectivity so that the people of Myanmar can communicate with family and friends and access important information,” a Facebook spokesman said. .
The political party ousted by Monday’s coup and other activists in Myanmar have called for a campaign of civil disobedience to oppose the takeover. At the forefront are medical personnel who have stated that they will not work for the military government and who are highly respected for their work during the coronavirus pandemic that plagues the country’s dangerously inadequate health care system.
During a second Wednesday night, residents in Yangon took part in “noise protests,” with people beating pots and pans and blowing car horns in the dark. And recent protests have revived a song closely related to the failed 1988 revolt against the military dictatorship. Myanmar was under military rule for five decades after a 1962 coup, and Suu Kyi’s five years as leader are her most democratic period.
Videos posted on social media showed that the medical staff sang the song “Kabar Makyay Bu,” or “We Won’t Be Satisfied Until the End of the World,” which is sung to the tune of “Dust in the Wind,” A song by the 1977 American rock band Kansas.
The protest movement seemed to have gained momentum from the government’s treatment of the hugely popular Suu Kyi, who was arrested along with other government leaders on Monday. Her party said Wednesday she was accused of possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies – believed to be used by her bodyguards – that were found in her home in the capital Naypyitaw,
The indictment would allow her to be legally held in custody until at least February 15th. The ousted president, Win Myint, is being held on a different charge. Suu Kyi is believed to remain under house arrest at her residence, where she was kept after the army arrested her.
The charge against Suu Kyi carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.