After shutting down phone services in Matupi following the reinstatement of martial law, the military regime resumed services in the township hard hit by the recent cyclone in southern Chin State on 20 May.
“We have been using the MPT service for the last three days and sometimes we can also use the MEC service, but it was stopped yesterday,” a local told Khonumthung News, wishing to remain anonymous for security reasons.
After fighting escalated between the military and Chin resistance groups in Chin State, the ‘four cuts’ strategy was implemented to thwart communications between resistance fighters in Chin State.
Initially, the regime suspended mobile phone services, leaving people to rely on their landlines, but when they cut off both, this created major challenges for the population, especially when Cyclone Mocha destroyed many homes in Matupi Township on 15 May, where regime support for victims has been limited.