Over 800 civil society organizations signed a petition on 13 February opposing Telenor’s plan to sell Telenor Myanmar to the junta-linked Investom (aka Shwe Byaing Phyu) company, according to the Blood Money Campaign.

A total of 843 signatures representing 694 civil society groups opposed to the military dictatorship and 149 anonymous groups signed the petition against the Norway-based Telenor company’s sale, according to the statement.

The statement added that the sale of the user's communications data to an unaccountable corporation linked to the junta could make some people targets for the junta, according to the statement. It also said the sale should be stopped immediately and that Telenor should be held accountable for any acts of violence by the junta against people who were targeted on the basis of their phone records.

Telenor Myanmar is seeking to sell its controlling interest to Investom (aka, Shwe Byaing Phyu), a company associated with the junta before 15 February, according to a news report published by Myanmar Now on 4 February.

Under successive junta administrations, the Shwe Byaing Phyu Company was authorized to engage in a variety of military-related operations, including importing and selling petroleum and mining with military-owned firms.

The Telenor Group, based in Norway, stated early last July that it will sell Telenor Myanmar to the M1 Group for $105 million after deciding to leave Myanmar.