It has been reported that the Myanmar’s military council continues to arrest people who criticize it on social media in Mon State.
The regime monitors social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and others and has made a series of arrests of people who write or share content critical of the regime and support the revolution.
On 4 November, Ko Ko Htut – a resident of Mawlamyine – was arrested by the military council for filming the roadblocks in front of the ministers’ residences and posting it on TikTok. He was charged under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code.
In a similar case, on 2 Nov., Daw Khin Khin Wai – a CDM midwife in Mawlamyine – was also arrested and charged under Section 505(a) for posting content on Facebook about the killing of Ye Township’s fisheries warden.
“They monitor and arrest people who post political posts online or write comments under them. And if you encounter junta soldiers during inspections, they search your phones. If you have apps they don’t know, they ask you a lot of questions,” said a Kyaito resident.
Recently, the military council has further restricted freedom of expression and movement, the Kyaito resident continued.
“These days, we don’t even dare to like political posts on Facebook,” said a young person.
In Mon State, the military junta has made a series of arrests for allegedly writing and posting content critical of the military and advocating violence on social media sites.
Those arrested were charged under either Section 505 or the Counterterrorism Law, according to locals.
In November, the military council sentenced four people charged under Section 505 for disseminating content critical of the military to two years in prison each and two others charged under Section 52(a) of the Counterterrorism Law to five years in prison.
According to Data for Myanmar, from February 2022 to September 2023, 61 people were arrested in Mon State for supporting and promoting anti-coup movements and revolutionary organizations as well as communicating and posting on social media.
Sent by IMNA.