Dictator in Burma takes over, cuts Internet

DW News (Deutshe Welle, Feb. 6, 2021); Pfc. Sandoval, Seth Auberon (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Burma's military junta blocks all internet as protests grow

(DW News, 2/6/21) Burma (renamed Myanmar by the dictators) has been taken over by a military junta led by a new dictator, General Min Aung Hlaing (\minn ong lang\), replacing former strongman Gen. Than Shwe.

The junta has cut off internet access across the country -- after taking down Twitter and Facebook (which more or less serves as the country's portal to the internet due to an unbeatable business plan for cell phones) amid growing protests against this week's coup d'etat.

Crowds of demonstrators took to the streets of largest city Rangoon (renamed Yangon) on Saturday to denounce the military takeover -- yet again after the 8888 Uprising and Saffron Revolution.

Burma leader Aung San Suu Kyi detained in military coup (DW News, 2/1/21) The military has carried out a coup d'état in Burma. They've seized control of the country and detained key government officials, including the country's beloved defacto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The military (made up of the country's unofficial leaders) accuses the official leaders in government of failing to act on claims of voter fraud in last November's election. The military announced a state emergency via the news channel they own in Burma.

Riot police (dressed like RoboCops straight off the streets of Los Angeles and Russia) blocked the streets using barricades and water cannons. Many of the peaceful demonstrators wore red [reminiscent of the young and rebellious Red Shirts of neighboring Thailand defying military rule] in support of arrested leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Resistance appears to be growing. A demonstration in Rangoon is the first such mass public protest since the military took over the country. Among the chants heard were:

"Military dictator, fail, fail!

Democracy, win!"

Chants demanding the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi were also popular. Authorities were not far away. Army Chief [Dictator] Min Aung Hlaing seized power on Monday, following in Ex.-Pres. Trump's lead, alleging fraud in the country's November election, which was won by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party.

The electoral commission dismissed the army's accusations. Now the country's internet access has been severely reduced, though it is being reported as cut off altogether.

Independent monitor NetBlocks says Burma is "in the midst of a second nation-scale internet blackout," with internet connectivity at almost half of ordinary levels.

Other reports say the military government ordered the shutdown of Facebook and Twitter, claiming the spread of "fake news." Trump's words have a much greater reach than he ever intended, inspiring racists in Europe, a madman in the Philippines, and a strongman in Mexico, as well as dictators in Russia and China.

Solidarity demonstrations and protests against this military coup have spread to other countries: In Melbourne, Australia, hundreds of demonstrators expressed their concern. And in Taiwan hundreds of members of the Burmese community there also came out in force. The United States has seen support for the Burmese people by expats and sympathizers.

For the time being in Burma, despite efforts to silence protestors, calls for an end to the coup are still loud and clear in the country.

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