4/23/25, 1:31 PM Myanmar: Earthquake shows why freedom of expression must be protected - ARTICLE 19 (https://www.article19.org) Donate Myanmar: Earthquake shows why freedom of expression must be protected Near the earthquake's epicentre, Sagaing, Myanmar, 31 March 2025. Photo: Reuters/Stringer Myanmar is reeling from the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on 28 March 2025, now followed by deadly aftershocks and a growing humanitarian emergency. The scale of the disaster is exacerbated by the ongoing armed conflict and the information blackout resulting from the military junta imposing restrictions on the internet and independent reporting. In the face of these compounding crises, ARTICLE 19 urges the international community to exert diplomatic pressure on the junta to lift internet shutdowns and censorship in the country, https://www.article19.org/resources/myanmar-earthquake-shows-why-freedom-of-expression-must-be-protected/ 1/4