The State Administrative Council has shut down the Internet in eight of the nine townships in Chin State in the face of a major outbreak of COVID-19 and during battles with civil resistance forces in which it suffered heavy casualties.
With the exception of Hakha Township, connectivity was cut off everywhere at 6 pm on 23 September.
“We can’t access any website to get updated information. I don’t know why the Burma Army (BA) has shut down internet services in Chin state,” said a man from Tedim town.
Many people rely on their mobile phones to connect to the Internet. In some townships, they could no longer make phone calls.
“They’ve shut down MPT services so we cannot use our mobile internet data and Telenor isn’t working either. We can’t use MPT phone services either. For example, when we make a call, a message says the number is outside the service area,” a man from Matupi town told Khonumthung News.
Earlier this month, BA shelled the town of Thangtlang with artillery, burning down at least 19 houses. Soldiers murdered a Christian pastor for trying to put out the fires. The attack was condemned in Burma and internationally. Five days later, the junta turned off connectivity.
”We can’t access information about health issues or transfer or receive money,” said a man from Paletwa town. He said there were rumours last month that the Internet would be shut down in Chin State.
In 2019, the military shut down internet services in 8 townships in Rakhine State and in Paletwa Township for over a year. At the time, there was fierce fighting between BA and Arakan Army in the region.
The SAC has suspended the Internet in some other regions of the country where it’s fighting with resistance forces and has lost many soldiers.
The townships in Chin State without connectivity are Falam, Tedim, Tongzan, Thangtlang, Matupi, Mindat, Kanpetlet and Paletwa.