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World's longest internet shutdown ends in parts of Myanmar

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/reuters/02/04/myanmar.jpg"/><figcaption>Local people bang pans the way they traditionally do it to drive away evil spirits, as they protest against military coup in Yangon, Myanmar February 3, 2021. <em>Reuters/Stringer</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>YANGON, Myanmar - The world&#x27;s longest internet shutdown -- affecting more than a million people for 19 months in one of Myanmar&#x27;s ethnic conflict zones -- has come to an end, according to a mobile operator based in the region.</p><p>The internet in parts of Myanmar&#x27;s troubled northern states of Rakhine and Chin was suspended in June 2019 following &quot;emergency&quot; orders issued by the telecoms department under Aung San Suu Kyi&#x27;s civilian government.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/04/21/un-chief-vows-to-rally-global-pressure-to-make-sure-myanmar-coup-fails">UN chief vows to rally global pressure to make sure Myanmar coup fails</a></li></ul><p>Following Monday&#x27;s military coup, mobile operator Telenor Group confirmed it had reinstated full services in eight townships in Rakhine and Chin states on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;Telenor Group and Telenor Myanmar have been advocating for the restoration of services and emphasized that freedom of expression through access to telecoms services should be maintained for humanitarian purposes,&quot; the company said in a statement.</p><p>On Wednesday, affected residents celebrated being reconnected to the wider world.</p><p>Khin Maung from Mrauk-U township in northern Rakhine said the internet connection was back, but slow.</p><p>&quot;Now we got the internet back. So we know about the coup as well,&quot; said Shouban in Maungdaw, who like many from the Rohingya ethnic group goes by one name.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/02/04/21/facebook-says-services-in-coup-hit-myanmar-being-restricted">Facebook says services in coup-hit Myanmar being restricted</a></li></ul><p>Human Rights Watch said the internet restrictions had curtailed awareness about coronavirus health risks and information about hygiene measures last year.</p><p>The conflict in Rakhine state between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, a militant group agitating for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine people, has left hundreds dead or injured.</p><p>Fighting spilled over into neighboring Chin state, forcing thousands of ethnic Chin, who are predominantly Christian, out of their villages and into temporary camps.</p><p>The region has also been beset by what the United Nations has said could be genocide, after a brutal military crackdown by the government which sent about 740,000 Rohingya fleeing for neighboring Bangladesh. </p><p>The 600,000 remaining Rohingya live under apartheid-like conditions.</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDDMWp6cqj8?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The world's longest internet shutdown -- affecting more than a million people for 19 months in one of Myanmar's ethnic conflict zones -- has come to an end, according to a mobile operator based in the region.</p>

The world's longest internet shutdown -- affecting more than a million people for 19 months in one of Myanmar's ethnic conflict zones -- has come to an end, according to a mobile operator based in the region.