Elon Musk Asked to Provide Satellite Internet for Myanmar Fight Against Junta

By The Irrawaddy 30 September 2022

Activists in Myanmar have requested SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk to offer uncensored web throughout the nation amid the junta’s shutdowns in anti-regime strongholds.

Musk’s satellite tv for pc web agency, Starlink, started working in Iran this week, amid protests which have brought about greater than 40 deaths, and it supplies providers in Ukraine after communications had been disrupted by Russia’s invasion.

Based on Entry Now, at the least 54 of Myanmar’s 330 townships have web blackouts, whereas the junta blocks entry to web sites and social media platforms, together with Fb, a main channel for communication. In resistance strongholds, the junta has additionally reduce cell phone communications.

The civilian Nationwide Unity Authorities’s communications minister U Htin Lin Aung requested Musk to supply Starlink to Myanmar after the service was offered in Ukraine and Iran.

Justice for Myanmar acknowledged this week that the junta is taking management of all cell networks, immediately and thru proxies, to construct a digital dictatorship. Censorship, web shutdowns and surveillance are routine, the activist group stated.

“Stand with the folks of Myanmar. Activate #Starlink,” it stated.

Entry has been reduce in Sagaing and Magwe areas and Chin State, the place resistance forces are sturdy. The blackout impedes the discharge of details about the battle.

Messages on Thursday on Fb and Twitter stated Myanmar urgently wanted Musk’s assist.

One person stated the web shutdown was meant to cease the worldwide group from seeing proof of junta atrocities.

Myanmar wants Starlink to file crimes and to carry the junta to account, he wrote. “Assist us and save lives,” he added.

Myanmar is unified in opposing the junta which seized energy in February final 12 months.

No less than 2,324 folks, together with almost 300 youngsters, have been killed by regime troops and greater than 15,600 folks have been detained.

Subjects: civil disobedience motion, civilian deaths, Coup, crackdown, Democracy, Elon Musk, Human Rights, Web, junta, navy in politics, navy regime, Min Aung Hlaing, Nationwide League for Democracy, Nationwide Unity Authorities, November 8 common election, on-line entry, PDF, Individuals’s Protection Power, folks’s conflict, Political Prisoners, regime, Rule of Regulation, State Administrative Council, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Tatmadaw