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US Urges End to Mobile Data Blackout in 2 Myanmar States

Reuters

   The United States onSaturday urged an immediate end to a mobile data
   blackout inparts of two Myanmar states, saying a service restoration
   wouldhelp provide transparency towhat the government says are
   lawenforcement actions to avert unrest.

   MorganOrtagus, the State Department spokeswoman, said theUnited States
   was "deeply concerned" by the data shutdown thathas curbed
   internet-based communications for as many as 1million people in Rakhine
   and Chin states.

   On Monday,YangheeLee, the special U.N. rapporteur whomonitors human
   rights in Myanmar, said the Myanmarmilitary wasconducting a "clearance
   operation"againstArakanArmy rebels intheblacked-outareas. She said she
   feared troops werecommitting "gross human rights violations" against
   civiliansunder the cover of the shutdown.

   TheArakanArmy, an insurgent group fighting for greaterautonomy for
   Rakhine state, recruits from the state'sethnicRakhine Buddhist
   majority.

   In a statement,Ortagussaid internet service should berestored "without
   delay."

   "Resumption of service would help facilitate transparency inand
   accountability for what the government claims are lawenforcement
   actions aimed at preventing further outbreaksofviolence in the affected
   areas,"Ortagussaid.

   A leading Myanmar telecommunications operator,theTelenorGroup, said on
   June 22 that the Ministry of Transport andCommunications had ordered a
   temporary shutdown ofinternetservices in western Myanmar, citing
   "disturbances of peaceandthe use of the internet to coordinate illegal
   activities."

   A military spokesman said the army had no information aboutthe shutdown
   and denied it was behind the blackout.

   Rakhine state made world headlines in 2017 when the Myanmarmilitary,
   responding to militant attacks, launched acrackdownthat prompted
   730,000 minority Rohingya Muslims toflee toBangladesh.

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