The Myanmar junta is chipping away bit by bit at freedom of expression and the ways the country’s citizens communicate and keep up to date on news and developments.

This week, as the world marked International Human Rights Day and Myanmar citizens stayed home in a “silent strike,” telecommunications companies raised their internet data rates at the behest of the Military Council's Directorate of Telecommunications.

For the many people struggling with the cost of living - given the economic difficulties caused by the February coup and the COVID-19 restrictions – raising the cost of using a smartphone is yet one more step amidst the junta’s raft of tools to make life difficult for the man and woman on the street.

But the intentions behind the moves may be more insidious than a price hike.

BACK IN TIME

Military coup leader Min Aung Hlaing seems to want to reduce or stop the flow of information and keep society as dark as it was during the time of the Burma Socialist Programme Party that reigned supreme from 1962 to 1988.

This means ratcheting up costs telecommunication but also taking steps to negatively affect the delivery methods of everything from videos to online payments.

Telecommunication companies such as MPT, Telenor, Ooredoo and Mytel, which have been providing domestic telecommunication services have effectively raised their internet data rates.

Here is how they have done it.

Before December 8, data rates of Telenor and Ooredoo's telecommunication services were 999 Kyats for 925MB and now it will be reduced from 925MB to 525MB for the same price. Similarly, MPT has reduced its data rate from 999 Kyats for 950MB to 515MB, while military-owned Mytel has announced that it will now cost 968 kyats for 512MB.

Telecommunication companies informed users at the beginning of December that call charges and internet charges will soon change. Wi-Fi internet companies have also notified customers that prices will increase, but no details have been released on how much they will charge under the new regimen.

TENSIONS INCREASING

Communication is getting more expensive and tensions are increasing with a people’s defence force stepping into what is effectively a battleground for hearts and minds.

The AREA 21 Revolution Network announced on December 5 that this is the first and last warning to the telecommunication companies. They said they would take the same action against these companies’ communication towers as the military-owned Mytel towers – targets for attack - and it would be considered a "terrorist act" if mobile operators followed the demands of the military council, disregarding the welfare of the people.

The AREA 21 Revolution Network is a group of local defense groups fighting the military dictatorship in various parts of Myanmar.

There are different elements to keep in mind as the Myanmar junta tries to tighten its grip and strangle communication.

Those working in the web and tech fields understand the importance of speed and reliability of internet connections. And these are under threat.

“Wi-fi service is not available in many places and when internet data prices increase, it becomes very difficult to work. It is not easy to find the resources needed to develop a project, and connecting clients online does not work well when the connection is slow. Our abilities were greatly reduced,” a young man working as a front-end web designer told Mizzima.

PLAYING CATCH-UP

In the 21st century internet age, Myanmar is different from other countries. Although there has been a quick take-up of mobile phones over the last few years, one-third of the country's population is not yet well-versed in the use of the Internet and is still in the process of familiarizing themselves with it.

“Departments are still dependent on paperwork and which one will be more effective, one at a time, searching the shelves for information and hitting enter in the search box? It is impossible to develop a country without adequate internet support," a young web designer notes.

At a time when the country is in recession, increasing the original data rates provided in the past is a clear violation of human rights and the intention to limit the internet access for all classes of people is clear.

The Military Council wants to block people from access to the information and truth that the internet provides through streaming live video clips. It is also clear that they plan to hamper online donations and support for the People's Defense Forces.

The Military Council wants to ban all possible ways that people are using to support the revolution and the case of increasing the internet data rates suggests an infringement of human rights and freedom of expression.

Human right activists say this is a difficult situation. Even during the recent period of quasi-democracy, under Aung San Suu Kyi National League for Democracy-led government, Myanmar citizens found their freedom of expression and information limited. In addition, Rakhine State suffered the longest internet outage in the world.

Therefore, the Voice-Freedom Movement demanded to repeal Article 77 of the Telecommunications Law, which makes it easy to cut off the Internet and Section 66 (d) of the Telecommunications Law, which violates the freedom of expression of journalists was requested to the civilian government to abolish 68 (a) and 78 on 23 December last year.

In addition, the recent change to a broadcasting law, brought in under the junta, bodes ill for the future.

Passed on 1 November with little fanfare or public or international reaction, the Second Amendment Law to the Television and Radio Broadcasting Law, Law No. 63/2021 (Second Broadcasting Amendment) is a seriously worrying piece of legislation - and not just for broadcasters.

Through this amendment, the Ministry of Information has expanded the scope for legal action to cover news coverage on social media platforms to the point where it needs a license. It remains unclear whether the mere act of sharing a video by putting it on an online platform could prove to be a criminal offense under this amended legislation.

MEDIA CLAMPDOWN

In addition, the media is under attack and are having difficulty doing their job. A senior reporter told Mizzima that the revised laws and the increase in internet data rates will slow down the flow of information and leave Myanmar in a state of disarray.

This is on top of the major clampdown on media. Nine media outlets have had their licenses revoked since the coup, with more than 130 journalists arrested, more than 40 detained and more than 30 on warrant lists.

Freedom of expression is the lifeblood of democracy. This right should be realized by the National Unity Government (NUG), which is an interim government leading the revolution against the military junta.

Internet laws that were not amended under Thein Sein's government were not amended under the NLD-led civilian government and after the military council took over, it became even worse.

There is a lesson here.

Ma Wai Phyo Myint from the Digital Rights Advocate, commenting at a seminar entitled "Future Society Forum on Freedom of Expression," noted that any future government needs to learn from these lessons and make sure freedom of expression is supported after the revolution.