The new face of power

Military orders social media crackdown as UN vows to act

YANGON: Myanmar’s generals have ordered internet providers to restrict access to Facebook, days after they seized power, as UN chief Antonio Guterres said the world must rally to ensure the military coup fails.

The Southeast Asian nation was plunged back into military rule on Monday as de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders were detained in a series of dawn raids, ending the country’s brief experiment with democracy. The coup sparked international condemnation and fears the military will drag 54 million people back to the decades of junta rule that turned Myanmar into one of Asia’s most impoverished nations.

With armed soldiers back on the streets of major cities, the takeover has not been met by any large street protests.

But people have flocked to social media to voice opposition and share plans for civil disobedience.

Telenor, one of the country’s main telecoms providers, confirmed authorities had issued an order to “temporarily block” access to Facebook.

The Norwegian-owned company said it had to comply but “does not believe that the request is based on necessity and proportionality, in accordance with international human rights law”.

Facebook confirmed access “is currently disrupted for some people” and urged authorities to restore connectivity.

UN Secretary-General Guterres said he would pressure Myanmar’s generals to reverse course.

“We will do everything we can to mobilise all the key actors and international community to put enough pressure on Myanmar to make sure that this coup fails,” Mr Guterres said.

“It’s absolutely unacceptable to reverse the results of the elections and the will of the people.” Army chief Min Aung Hlaing justified his coup by alleging voter fraud in November’s election.