Communications blackouts in Arakan State disrupt info flow

By Admin 31 Oct 2024

DMG Newsroom
31 October 2024, Mrauk-U

Communications blackouts are severely restricting the flow of information in Arakan State, as well as disrupting the operations of local media outlets.

Of 17 townships in Arakan State, 15 have been hit by complete communication blackouts. Myebon is the only township with access to phone and internet services, while Kyaukphyu still has partial access.

The communications blackouts are posing challenges to local media outlets, which are struggling to cover the war and attendant hardships faced by Arakan State residents.

Arakan State-based reporter Ma Khin Tharaphi said: "We know when incidents happen, but we can't reach local people to find out details, and we can't therefore write reports as usual."

Misinformation has been rife in Arakan State as information is often passed by word of mouth. Residents are concerned that rumours and misinformation could result in unnecessary consequences.

"We can only get hearsay from people. We want to get accurate and credible information from the media. But we only have access to misinformation," said one resident.

A freelance reporter from Yangon said a news blackout in a war zone can have life-and-death implications. "It is a grave human rights violation. It is even difficult for journalists in Arakan to share information between them, let alone [disseminate that information to] civilians," they said.

Since its coup in 2021, Myanmar's military regime has imposed various types of internet shutdowns, including partial internet outages, bandwidth limitations, blocking of social media platforms, and preventing direct access to websites used by the news media, among others.

The regime has cut off phone and internet services in 87 townships across the country since the putsch. Sagaing Region has suffered the most, with 27 townships hit by internet blackouts, followed by Arakan State, where all 17 townships have faced some degree of disruption, according to Athan, an advocacy group for freedom of expression.