Myanmar Army Broadens Internet Crackdown; Blocks Twitter, Instagram As Anti-Coup Protest Intensifies

The residents of Myanmar banged pots and plastic bottles to show their opposition to the army takeover. Soon, the military authorities in charge of the state ordered internet providers to enforce ban on Twitter and Instagram.

Myanmar (Photo: PTI)

After blocking Facebook, the Myanmar Army has expanded internet crackdown by ordering to suspend social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram in the name of public interest and state stability. According to the reports, the authorities on Friday ordered internet providers to enforce the latest ban “until further notice” in the face of a growing protest movement against the coup that ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

As residents in the biggest city again banged pots and plastic bottles to show their opposition to the army takeover, the military authorities in charge of the state ordered communications operators and internet service providers to cut access to Twitter and Instagram. The statement said that some people are trying to use both platforms to spread fake news.

The order of suspension came hours after nearly 300 members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party declared themselves as the sole legitimate representatives of the people on Friday. 

The lawmakers were to have the first session of parliament since last year's elections when the military announced it was taking power for a year.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar President Win Myint were detained on Monday along with other leaders of the National League of Democracy (NLD) party after which, Vice President U Myint Swe declared one year of the state of emergency. Army chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power alleging fraud in a November 8 elections. 

The incident has gained world-wide momentum with many world leaders expressing their condemnation towards the news of the coup in Myanmar. U.S. President Joe Biden threatened new sanctions and called it “direct assault on the country’s transition to democracy and rule of law.”