Since Myanmar’s military took over the regime in a coup on the 1st of last month, all independent newspapers have stopped publishing. Myanmar’s military has blocked access to mobile Internet and social media platforms, allowing citizens to lean on Wi-Fi or use virtual private networks (VPNs) to share information.
According to a report by the independent media in Myanmar,’Myan Manau’, there are no independent newspapers in Myanmar since the’San Taw Chain’ ceased to operate on the 17th. Myanmar Now said, “Following the Myanmar Times, The Voice, Seven Day News, and Eleven, it was shut down after the outbreak of a military coup last month. Another critical point has come.”
On the 8th, the Myanmar military officials announced on the 8th that the licenses for Myanmanau, 7 Day News, Mijima, DVB (Voice of Burmese Democracy), and Kittin Media will be revoked and abolished. Myan Manau, who continues to report, said, “Now, only online news remains as a reliable source of information for millions of citizens.”
According to foreign media, the military regime’s measures to completely prevent communication between citizens and the spread of information to the international community have reached their peak. The military has completely blocked the use of mobile data from the 15th. Following the day of the coup and the 15th to 16th of last month, large-scale protests against the military coup spread. In early February, access to social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram in Myanmar was blocked, making it difficult to access until now.
Citizens use the occasional Wi-Fi to access the Internet. The Guardian reported that citizens are using VPNs (virtual private networks) to resist military access restrictions. Citizens communicate using encrypted apps such as Viber to avoid intercepting and intercepting the military. The protests are held with English pickets to inform the overseas media and the international community of the local situation.
On February 11, the military regime’Ministry of Information’ issued a guideline to the Myanmar Press Council, which is an association of journalists in Myanmar, to use the name’National Administrative Committee’ rather than’military regime’. In addition, in the direction of the report, he instructed to follow the military claim that “a state of emergency has been declared legitimately. Media and websites that do not comply with the reporting guidelines stipulated that they violate media ethics and instigate unrest.
As the local media continued to report criticism, Supreme Commander Min Aung Hlaing, who led the coup, declared on the 22nd of last month that he would “revoke the licenses of media companies that continue to use languages that they did not approve.” In response, over 50 media in Myanmar protested and declared, “We will report on the regime and its actions as they are.” Fifteen members of the Myanmar Press Council resigned, saying, “It is a situation that cannot protect the safety of fellow journalists or the media ethics.”
Since then, the military directly aimed at the reporter on the scene. On the 27th of last month, five reporters were arrested for’incitement’. The military sued Irrawaddy, a local independent media, for’disregarding the military’. To date, 10 reporters have been sued and 12 have been detained without trial.
The Korean media are also having a hard time figuring out what’s happening in the region. Currently, there is no media company dispatched to Myanmar. Korean reporters said, “We are reporting reports through indirect contact with Koreans, information obtained through SNS, or contributions by Koreans’ correspondents.” Korean reporters are getting information through articles from foreign news agencies including Reuters, local online independent media such as Myanmanau, Irrawaddy, and Kitthing Media, and through social media accounts.
Meanwhile, social media platforms are closing military-related accounts that promote military coups. On the 21st, Twitter suspended the Twitter account used by the military intelligence department for coup propaganda on the grounds of violating SNS regulations. Facebook blocked Myanmar military accounts on the 26th of last month, and YouTube deleted five military-owned accounts on the 5th.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that the military revived pre-2011 practices such as pre-screening reports of all privately published newspapers and revoking licenses. On the 15th, he expressed his concern.
Violent suppression continues in Myanmar, with the military firing targets at protesters. According to the Myanmar Political Offender Support Association, as of the 22nd, at least 261 people died from violence in Myanmar. 2,682 have been arrested, prosecuted or convicted.
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