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Locals have no access to information due to internet cut-off in almost all townships of Chin State

September 27th, 2021

Locals said they have no access to information due to internet cut-off in eight townships of Chin State where fighting took place between the military council’s troops and the Chinland Defense Force (CDF).

Since the evening of September 23rd, the military council has cut off internet in Htantalan, Teedim, Falam, Teedim, Tunzan, Matupi, Kanpetlet and Paletwa Townships in Chin State, according to locals.

A local who declined to be named said: “Most of townships in Chin State have no access to the internet. I don’t know why the internet is cut off. I think the military council is doing it on purpose. Fighting took place between the military council and the CDF in our town. The people have no access to information any longer due to internet shutdown. Solving the problem by cutting off the internet is not a sufficient solution.”

A civil servant from Matupi Township said: “I am concerned about the prolonged internet shutdown. It may have big impacts on remittance services and entrepreneurs who have to mainly rely on online. It may also have impacts on information access and education. I expect there will be no prolonged internet shutdown.”

Locals are concerned that they may face the prolonged internet shutdown like in the Arakan State.

A ward administrator from Paletwa Township said: “There was an internet blackout when fighting took place. Now we face an internet blackout again. We may face difficulty if there is a year-long internet shutdown. Internet blackouts amount to closing our eyes and ears.

Relevant operators did not give prior notice about the internet blackout in Chin State.

U Sein Tun Hla, Chin State Ethnic Affairs Minister appointed by the military council told the DMG that he knew of the internet cut-off in some townships of Chin State. He did not exactly know in which townships the internet was cut off as he was on a trip.”

The military council has not released any information about the internet shutdown in eight townships in Chin State yet.

The authorities cut off internet access in eight townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State for more than one year without prior notice when there was intense fighting between the military and the Arakan Army (AA) in June, 2019.

Sent by Aung Htein (DMG)

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