The temporary shutdown of internet access and blocking access to social media pages after the military coup is depriving our youth of future opportunities and a violation of human rights, said young people in Mon State.
Youth face many difficulties in their online learning whenever the army temporarily cuts off internet access, blocks access to social media pages and reduces the internet speed.
A female student in Mawlamyine Township said: “I am attending a six-month online course. I have to learn it on zoom. The teaching time is 2.30 am in another country and 8 am in Myanmar. After the military coup, the internet connection is not good. Due to the shutdown of internet access, I cannot join the course. Now I have stopped my learning for four months. Now all my efforts appear to be of no avail.”
The State Administration Council formed by the army announced that the temporary internet blackout would be from 1 am to 9 am from February 14 to 28. The temporary internet shutdown remains across the country.
A youth from Mawlamyine Township said: “I have to use VPN to surf Facebook. I cannot attend online meetings as the internet speed is so slow. I cannot do freely what I want. The army is limiting our human rights and disrupting the flow of information. It is unfair for young people.”
The Ministry of Transport and Communication issued a statement on February 11 saying that it temporarily blocked internet access due to the sharing of erroneous information on social media and websites.
