Myanmar blocks Facebook as resistance grows to coup

Myanmar's new military government has blocked access to Facebook as resistance to Monday's coup surged amid calls for civil disobedience to protest ousting of elected civilian government and its leer Aung San Suu Kyi. Facebook is especially popular in Myanmar and ousted government h commonly me public anuncements on social media site.

Internet users said disruption began late Wednesday night, and mobile service provider Teler Myanmar confirmed in a statement that mobile operators and internet service providers in Myanmar h received a directive from communications ministry to temporarily block Facebook. Teler Myanmar, which is part of rwegian Teler Group, said it would comply, though was concerned order was a breach of human rights.

“Telecom providers in Myanmar have been ordered to temporarily block Facebook. We urge authorities to restore connectivity so that people in Myanmar can communicate with family and friends and access important information,” said a Facebook spokesperson.

political party ousted in Monday's coup and or activists in Myanmar have called for a campaign of civil disobedience to oppose takeover. In vanguard are medical personnel, who have declared y won't work for military government and who are highly respected for ir work during coronavirus pandemic that is taxing country's dangerously inequate health system.

For a second night Wednesday, residents in Yangon engd in “ise protests,” with people banging pots and pans and honking car horns under cover of darkness. And recent protests have revived a song closely associated with failed 1988 uprising against military dictatorship. Myanmar was under military rule for five deces after a 1962 coup, and Suu Kyi's five years as leer is its most democratic period.

Videos posted on social media showed medical personnel especially turned out to sing song “Kabar Makyay Bu” or “We Won't Be Satisfied Until End of World” which is sung to tune of “Dust in Wind,” a 1977 song by US rock group Kansas.

protest movement seemed to have gotten a boost from government's treatment of highly popular Suu Kyi, who was detained along with or government leers on Monday. Her party said Wednesday she was being charged with possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies believed to be used by her bodyguards — that were found in her house in capital Naypyitaw.

charge would allow her to legally be kept in custody until at least February 15. ousted President Win Myint is being held on a separate charge. Suu Kyi is believed to remain under house arrest at her residence, where she was kept after army detained her. charge against Suu Kyi carried a penalty of up to three years in prison. 

(Im Credits: AP)