Sub-title:
Locals and campaigners appeal for an end to the blackout as coronavirus fears grip the region.
Description:
"The internet shutdown in Myanmar's conflict-ridden northwest, described by rights groups as the world's longest, has entered a second year.
Locals and campaigners are appealing for an end to the blackout as coronavirus fears grip the region.
More:
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First coronavirus case found in Bangladesh Rohingya refugee camps
Bangladesh quarantines hundreds of Rohingya rescued from sea
The Myanmar military has been embroiled in a bloody civil war since January 2019 against the Arakan Army (AA), a rebel group fighting for more autonomy for ethnic Rakhine Buddhists.
The government shut down mobile data in several townships across Rakhine state and neighbouring Chin state on June 21 last year, causing panic among residents desperate for information about the unrest.
On Friday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called for an immediate end to "the world's longest government-enforced internet shutdown".
"It's critical for civilians to get the information needed to stay safe" during a global pandemic, said HRW's Linda Lakhdhir.
The country has so far recorded 287 coronavirus cases, including six deaths, but experts fear the low numbers are due to a lack of testing..."
Source/publisher:
"Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of Publication:
2020-06-21
Date of entry:
2020-06-23
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Countries:
Myanmar
Administrative areas of Burma/Myanmar:
Rakhine State
Language:
English
Resource Type:
text
Text quality:
- Good