Myanmar Military shut down the internet as thousands protest

 

Myanmar Protest

The Myanmar military shut down the internet in the country on Saturday as thousands of people protested in Myanmar's largest city Yangon.

It was the biggest street demonstration seen yet since this week's coup.  As the protests swelled, witnesses reported a shutdown of mobile data services and wi-fi.

Earlier, the military ordered mobile operators and internet providers to block access to Twitter and Instagram.  A temporary ban had already been put on Facebook which counts half of the country's 54 million population as users.  

Before the shutdown #SaveMyanmar and #RespectOurVotes were trending and many were using the platform to voice their opposition to the military coup.

The Ministry of Communications and Information said previously it had blocked Facebook for the sake of qoute, "stability."

A Facebook spokesman confirmed the block on Instagram to Reuters.  
A spokeswoman for Twitter said,
"We will continue to advocate to end destructive government-led shutdowns."

Norwegian telecom telenor, one of the largest in Myanmar, also expressed its concern in a statement and said it had challenged the necessity of the order to authorities.

For the fourth consecutive night Yangon residents banged pots and pans to show resistance against the military takeover and to drive out evil spirits.

There were signs of coup opponents growing bolder on Friday.  Staff from various government ministries put on red ribbons in the capital Naypyitaw and some teachers at a University in Yangon refused to work and held a three-finger salute as a symbol of resistance borrowed from the 'Hunger Games' film series.

The army general seized power on Monday alleging fraud in the November election.

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and at least 147 people have been detained since the coup including activists, lawmakers, and officials from her government.