Burma cutts off internet to stop citizen journalists
Burma's military trying to oppress the protesters in Myanmar.
Burmese government blocks Internet access to avoid citizen journalists from covering the protests.
As Burma's military government attempts to suppress the largest pro-democracy protests by Buddhist monks and civilians in decades, there are numerous reports on Friday that it has also cut off its citizens' Internet access and cell phone lines.
Burma (sometimes known as Myanmar) is already labeled by watchdog groups as one of the most restrictive locales in the world when it comes to blocking Internet content. But as in China and other countries that practice media censorship, dissidents have come up with technological workarounds, such as proxies that connect them directly to computers outside the prohibitive country.
Now there are widespread reports that public Internet cafes have been shut down, most of the country's cell phone lines have been disconnected, and the remaining Internet access has made uploading photos and video of scenes on the ground a snail-like process. Some groups are exploring buying expensive but less easily restricted satellite phones to continue their dispatches, according to a Friday Wall Street Journal report
Some news agencies have reported being told that the Internet connection has been brought down by a damaged undersea cable, but diplomats and citizens said they suspect the government is involved. The shutdown apparently did nothing to keep at least 10,000 protesters from assembling Friday.
Whatever the reason, the technological restrictions are significant because the Internet has emerged as one of the primary channels for sharing images, videos and accounts of the non-violent demonstrations. Through blogs, shaky videos shot on cell phone cameras, and text messages, witnesses on the ground have been feeding reports of the violence to Burmese journalists working in other countries, according to the Journal. Citizen reporters have even started using the social networking site Facebook or slipping news into online greeting cards to communicate their message to the outside world, Reuters reported.
The protests have been going on for about a month now and have drawn as many as 70,000 demonstrators to the streets at a time, according to the Associated Press. At least 10 people have been killed in the past two days in the largest cities. Thursday marked the most violent day so far, the AP said, with bloody sandals littering the streets and protesters shouting pleas for freedom as gun-wielding troops in riot gear made arrests.
Burma (or Myanmar) is a country that often flies under the international radar. Despite the fact that its ruling junta is one of the world's most repressive regimes, it almost never gets the "air time" of a Sudan, North Korea, or Iran.
That has changed this past week, as massive protests and demonstrations have rocked the capital city of Rangoon. Prompted by the government's hike in fuel prices last month, these protests have combined Buddhist monks, college students, human rights activists, and hundreds–perhaps thousands–of disaffected citizens. The international community is getting involved, as well.
Related Topics:News Sources:
'Citizen Journalists' Evade Blackout On Myanmar NewsBurmese government blocks Internet access, continues crackdown on protesters
Myanmar: The world is watching
Burmese journals suspend publication due to government demands
All democratic governments are based upon freedom of speech and the right to protest. It is sad that this kind of restrictions still exist in the 21th century. Sadly there is nothing we can do about it cause I don't think they will accept a different opinion peacefully.
Post new comment