Saung Zar Kyi

Narinjara | June 24 2020

Two more youth involved in acampaign demanding the resumption of the internet in Rakhine one year into theblackout now face charges for violating section 19 of the Peaceful Assemblylaw, while one woman from Ann township also involved in the campaign iscurrently being questioned by police.

The two people arrested are both from Thada Yinthwee  New Generation Youth Group, the chairman KoNay Toe Khaing and advisor Ko Min Za Aung.  Ma Aye Aye Naing,chairwoman of Ann township’s New Generation is currently being questioned bypolice.

Ko Min Za Aung, advisor for New Generation YouthGroup spoke to Narinjara. “They told us that headquarters had toldthem to hold us.  I don’t know whichheadquarters though.  Four or five of us had stood at the entrance tothe town with banners explaining that it was one year since the ban on internetwas imposed. We had taken photographs which we then posted on Facebook, andthat’s how the case was opened,” he said.

On June 21 members of theYouth Group had gathered at the entrance toKyaukphyu to observe the one year anniversary of the internet blackout inRakhine and Paletwa township in Chin state, and demand that the internet ban belifted.

“We weren’t noisy when we didit. In today’s world people use the internet for work, to dobusiness.  The internet is incredibly useful for education,healthcare and religion and the ban means that people’s lives have been plungedinto an information blackhole.  We have been shut off from the restof the world, and we want to be connected, that’s why we did this,” Ko Min ZaAung said.

Ma Aye Aye Naing thechairwoman of Ann township’s New Generation Youth Group told Narinjara that shewas also being investigated by police for campaigning against the internetblackout which had been photographed and posted on Facebook.

Similarly, members of Ramreeyouth group had gathered at the Ramree town entrance to campaign against theinternet ban on June 21, photographed the event and posted onFacebook.  The youth groups communication officer Ko Myo Min Tun nowfaces charges for violating section 19 of the Peaceful Assembly law.

Five people in Yangoncampaigning against the internet ban also face charges for violating thePeaceful Assembly law.

June 21 marks one year sinceinternet services were suspended in seven townships in Rakhine and Paletwa inChin state. Numerous civil society organisations and social activists from anumber of towns and cities across the country, including Sittwe and Yangon,have staged events calling for internet services to be resumed. Many haveposted pictures of their protest banners on social media networks.