Monthly Overview: Human Rights Situation in Mon State, Karen State & Tanintharyi Region
Censorship, Surveillance and Privacy Violations on the Rise
The military junta is fueling a war on all fronts. Attacks against civilians include the suppression of information flows and the right to access life-saving channels of knowledge through social media and other online platforms.
Their attempt to censor information channels is a clear sign of desperation to conceal the injustices they are committing. The military junta is afraid of being exposed for their extensive crimes against innocent people.
For many years, Burma’s human rights issues were largely hidden from the world. Taking advantage of limited Internet access, the regime committed numerous violations in continuous defiance of the law.
Thousands continue to reject military rule and actively fighting for their rights through protests and other methods. The Burma Army relies on weapons, not ethics.
Burma was placed 176th out of 180 countries for press freedom in 2023 by Reporters Without Borders. This alarming rank reflects the junta’s severe actions against the media, targeting even citizen
journalists who now experience increased violence. Numerous journalists are still held captive in junta-backed prisons for exposing their crimes.
In mid-July, the military regime prohibited the popular messaging application, Signal. Signal is widely favoured for its end-to-end encryption, which ensures the utmost privacy. It is a go-to choice for activists, NGOs, and human rights advocates in Burma to conduct their work securely and does not require a virtual private network (VPN) to connect. The junta began restricting its use on July 15, accusing users of communicating with resistance groups.
Immediately after the failed coup, the Burmese Army restricted access to Facebook to hinder organizing efforts, emphasizing the ongoing challenges for the people in Burma.
In areas covered by the Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), including Mon State, Karen State, and the Tanintharyi region, civilians continuously encounter threats to their safety.
The military regime promotes and enforces a dystopia environment characterized by extensive surveillance and frequent violations of privacy rights. In Mon State, this effort has been extensive as users of the Signal application are arrested. On July 24, junta soldiers and police officers began strictly monitoring and detaining individuals using it.
Following these restrictions, junta forces increased checks on pedestrians and motorists at critical locations such as Zaygyo Road, the road to Kyaikmaraw, and the Daik Win roundabout in Mawlamyine.
