Internet cut-off affects Arakanese migrant workers

28 Jun 2019

Su Mon | DMG

27 June, Sittwe

Since the Myanmar government instructed telecommunications companies to suspend mobile data service for some townships in Arakan State, Arakanese migrant workers abroad are encountering challenges.

Eight townships in Arakan State have lost access to mobile data services as of 21 June and Arakanese people who work abroad cannot contact their families in their homeland.

Some Arakanese people who are working in Thailand need family documents from Myanmar but they could not contact their family and had to pay money for the documents.

Ko Zaw Zaw, who is from Mrauk-U Township and working in southern Thailand, said: “I brought my ID card. To obtain documents here, we need to show our household member document from Myanmar. If we cannot show it, we have to pay 3000 THB. If we cannot show our ID card and household member document, we have to pay 6000 THB. So, we spend money on unnecessary things, we shouldn’t have to go through this.” 

More than 100 Arakanese have been facing such obstacles like Ko Zaw Zaw who works in a factory.

Some people that criticized the Internet cut-off have said it’s a kind of breach of human rights, this includes news blackouts in conflict areas as well.

The Arakan State parliament on 26 June approved an urgent proposal to restore mobile data service because the government’s ban puts local people in a difficult situation when it comes to contacting loved ones, friends or business associates.

U San Kyaw Hla, speaker of the Arakan State parliament, urged the government after the emergency meeting of the state parliament on 26 June to reconsider the action of suspending mobile data service and to consider other approaches or options to prevent hate speech and to restore regional stability.

Mobile operators in Myanmar namely MPT, Telenor, Mytel and Ooredoo have currently shut down mobile data service for Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Myebon, Rathedaung, Buthidaung and Maungdaw Townships in Arakan State and Paletwa Township in Chin State.