Knocking Pots and Burning Photos... Myanmar Military Blocks Facebook (Comprehensive)

"Citizen Mobilization Channel Facebook... Power Neutralization"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The Myanmar military, which staged a coup, has blocked access to Facebook within Myanmar to prevent the spread of momentum for protest demonstrations.

As images of people burning military photos or waving banners with anti-coup slogans rapidly spread through Facebook, it appears to be an attempt to neutralize civilian resistance.

On the 4th, Myanmar's Ministry of Information and Communications announced that "Facebook is contributing to national instability" and that "Facebook will be blocked until midnight on the 7th," according to reports from the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others.

The global network monitoring organization NetBlocks reported that as the Myanmar military took control of the internet and communications, access to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other platforms has been restricted by state-run telecommunications companies such as Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications.

Among Myanmar's 54 million population, 27 million people?half of the population?use Facebook, making it a key channel for citizen mobilization.

Since the coup on the 1st, when State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint were detained by the military, Myanmar citizens have been conducting online protests via Facebook.

The news that detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi urged nonviolent protest against the coup became a driving force for the spread of online demonstrations.

With the military charging Suu Kyi with illegally importing and using walkie-talkies without permission and deciding to detain her until the 15th, civilian resistance is expected to intensify.

In Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, street protests were held for the first time since the coup. On that day, 20 protesters held banners with anti-coup slogans and shouted slogans such as "Release the arrested leaders."

The day before, a photo showing people in Yangon, Myanmar, banging pots with spoons and shouting anti-coup slogans in protest against the military coup quickly spread on Facebook.

Protests condemning the coup, which occurred after 10 years of democratization, also continued outside Myanmar. Myanmar migrants in Thailand participated in protests in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand by banging tin pots with spoons or sticks and burning photos of the military.

Through posts tagged with hashtags such as ‘Save Myanmar,’ ‘Myanmar Wants Democracy,’ and ‘Justice for Myanmar,’ they called for international attention and assistance.

Facebook announced it has designated Myanmar as a temporary high-risk area and will strengthen supervision of posts and other content. The Facebook page ‘Myanmar Civil Disobedience Movement’ has more than 190,000 followers.

A Facebook spokesperson stated in a press release, "The company is aware that some people are currently experiencing disruptions in accessing Facebook," and urged authorities to restore connectivity so that Myanmar people can communicate with family and friends and access important information."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.