February 21st, 2022
The military council troops are conducting more inspections of mobile phones at the entrance and exit gates in downtown Hakha, the capital of Chin State.
A local from Hakha said: “Some people have installed three Virtual Private Network (VPN) software in their mobile phones. The military fines Ks-50,000 per one VPN software. At least four or five people have faced a fine. Some people got arrested due to facebook. The military releases them after the five-hour detention. The military doesn’t release one person till one week. It is difficult for the people in Hakha to go outside.”
On February 16th, the military council troops inspected three youths’ mobile phones on the Hakhaman passenger bus plying between Hakha and Yangon at the exit of Hakha. Then, they arrested three youths.
The military has banned Facebook following the coup in Myanmar. People have to install VPN software to use the facebook.
A local from Hakha said: “I hardly read the news. I have to uninstall the VPN very often as the military arrests the VPN users. I don’t install VPN as my phone may be out of order. Now I find it difficult to use facebook and don’t know the news in time as the military council has increased the inspection of VPN software. I have to hear the news from others. The police and soldiers ask the people who go outside without their mobile phones in downtown Hakha to return to their homes to bring them along.”
The military council attempts to enact the Cyber Law. Under the Cyber Law, any one who uses the VPN without the permission shall face a three years imprisonment or a fine of less than Ks-five million or both.
The military council is also checking the mobile phones in other townships.
Following the coup, the military council has cut off internet access across the country. On September 23rd, all townships in Chin State except Hakha faced internet shutdown.
Sent by the KMG.