Restriction on Internet Freedom by the Junta from anonymous telecommunications company reported to RFA that the junta directed to shut down all internet services for an hour. Regional internet shutdowns When armed revolution became a mandatory choice to secure the public freedom after the military raids, arrests, and killings of public protests, People Defense Forces (PDFs) emerged in the respective regions across the country, including the flat areas of the mid-Myanmar. The internet connections were particularly cut in certain areas, where there were firefights between the local PDFs and the junta forces. From August 20 to November 3, the junta shut down the internet in 30 townships. These include 13 townships from Sagaing Region, nine townships from Chin State, four from Magway Region, and two from Mandalay Region and Kachin State respectively. The internet in Hpakant township of Kachin State, had been shut down starting from August 20 till the present while writing this report.10 The information flow is being compromised due to the internet shutdowns, exerting adverse socio-economic impacts on the local community. It was reported that some local people in Hpakant township were arrested at night while the internet had been shut down. The internet at Long Khin and Hawng Par villages near Hpakant, was also cut off. Later, the internet in Sagaing Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, and Chin State, where the clashes between the junta’s military and the local PDFs became intense, were cut off. In addition to poor internet access, there were difficulties in communicating via phone lines in some places. As of the interview update from a resident in Kani of Sagaing Region to the RFA on September 15, it was said that “the phone lines are pretty poor and have to dial 10 (2021, August 24). “ဖားကန်မှာ အင်တာနက်ြဖတ်၊ လံုြခံေရးပိုတင်းကျပ်” https://web.facebook.com/39218993127/posts/10161318892228128?_rdc=1&_rdr 4 Available at