5/22/22, 5:32 PM ‘Online mob’ assists silent strike crackdown | Frontier Myanmar This time around, the junta has announced that those participating in the silent strike could be charged with supporting terrorism, sedition or incitement – offences that attract heavy prison terms – while business owners could also have their property confiscated. Backing up the military is a team of social media users that have been reporting businesses planning to participate in the strike and urging their followers to do the same. Most of these users are found on messaging app Telegram and Russia’s most popular social media site VK, because since the coup Facebook, which is Myanmar’s most popular platform, has banned many prominent pro-military users known for spreading hate speech and disinformation. This has forced them to turn to these less popular but also less regulated digital spaces. Both platforms were launched by Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, although they left VK in 2013 and 2014, respectively, claiming the company was taken over by Russian government allies. Han Nyein Oo is far from alone in targeting silent strike supporters. Other well-known Telegram accounts, like Thazin Oo, Sergeant Phoe Si and Kyaw Swar, have also identified protest participants so the authorities can take action against them. “Aba may be in a good mood… however, Han Nyein Oo, Kyaw Swar and I are not nice,” wrote Thazin Oo, referring to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing by a Burmese word for grandfather that is often used to refer to military leaders. Ma Thazin Oo describes herself as a journalist, but frequently appears on the military-run Myawady TV and is up front about her support for the regime. “We are destroying the terrorists because they are causing all kinds of trouble to the people. I urge the people who want to live in peace to collaborate with our team,” she wrote. Soldiers seen raiding a business in a series of videos and pictures posted by the Han Nyein Oo Telegram channel on January 30 (Frontier) Sending in the troops The social media users do not appear to be making empty threats. Han Nyein Oo claimed that some of the businesses he reported to authorities were raided, and their owners arrested for supporting “the terrorist NUG and PDF”. The National Unity Government was formed following the coup by lawmakers elected in the November polls, and in early May announced the establishment of an armed wing, the People’s Defence Force. The junta has declared both the NUG and PDF terrorist organisations. Han Nyein Oo is clear that the intention of calling out the businesses was to alert the authorities. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I reported it after warning them. Let me ask you again, who lives across from me and dares to announce that the store will close? If you know a brave shop, you can report it safely,” Han Nyein Oo wrote. “Thank you to all the security forces for taking prompt action on every post.” Han Nyein Oo has even demanded that action be taken against any soldiers who fail to investigate his tips, accusing them of being “watermelons”. This is a slang term for soldiers who secretly support the NLD: They are said to be green on the outside, the colour associated with the military, but red on the inside, the colour associated with the NLD. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/online-mob-assists-silent-strike-crackdown/ 2/8