Myanmar Coup: Junta Blocks Facebook, Messaging Services as West Mounts Pressure
The move came after police filed âabsurdâ charges against leader Suu Kyi, and as international pressure grew on the junta to accept the results of the November elections.
Soldiers stand guard at a Myanmar s military checkpoint on the way to the congress compound in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, February 1, 2021. Photo: Reuters/Stringer
Myanmar’s junta blocked Facebook and other messaging services in the name of ensuring stability on Thursday as they consolidate power following a coup and the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The move to silence online activists came after Myanmar police filed charges against Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi for illegally importing communications equipment, and as international pressure grew on the junta to accept the results of November elections won by her party in a landslide.
路透新闻部
(Adds Telenor, Facebook comments)
Feb 4 (Reuters) - Internet providers in Myanmar including state-owned telecom MPT were blocking access to Facebook Inc-owned services in the country on Thursday, days after military leaders seized power in a coup.
A letter posted online by the Ministry of Communications and Information overnight said Facebook would be blocked until Feb. 7 for the sake of “stability.”
Some users in Myanmar reported they were not able to access several Facebook services.
Network monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed state-owned telecom MPT, which says it has 23 million users, had blocked Facebook as well as its Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp services. Norway’s Telenor Asa said it had just blocked Facebook to comply with the directive.