The Great Firewall of Myanmar? With the entire telecommunications sector under the control of the junta, the illusion of safety gave way to the certainty of danger for every netizen in Myanmar. Sutawan ‘Ploy’ Chanprasert, from the Digital Reach organization, is not optimistic about the Photo: Arrest warrant with the URL of her Facebook profile against Phway three-time Myanmar Academy Award winning actress and model, aired near-future: “Threats against digital security are Phway, on military-owned channel Myawaddy TV. (Screenshot of MWD TV) Popular national artists have been particularly targeted by the repression. likely to be more complicated and more intense following the coup. Before the coup took place, the repression focused on dissidents like journalists, human rights lawyers, and activists. While the crackdown on this group is more severe, it also expands to ordinary people, who are being stopped by the military while walking on a street or having their houses raided and forced to hand over their mobile phones and other electronic devices.” In the evenings, arrest warrants are published on social media and aired on Myawaddy, the military-owned television network, against anyone who is suspected of any kind of involvement in the revolution. Most of the time, the information and so-called proof of dissent come from their Facebook accounts. For the people who have been put on the list, hiding in an undisclosed location from one day to another is the only way to escape the dark cells and torture chambers of Myanmar’s notoriously brutal prisons. For example, the admin of the popular "Shitty Artwork" Facebook Page, which features cartoons about the revolution, has seen his picture and address leaked by a woman who reported him to the military. He had to change his place of stay and his appearance, condemning him to live on the run and the looming anxiety of having his cover exposed. Following the money, has been a big part of the junta’s hunting strategy. Since mid-August, some users of mobile banking, which is the main system used by people in Myanmar, have seen their accounts blocked after being linked to donations to PDF, CDM or NUG support funds. A first-hand account from the field follows: “My own WavePay account has been recently banned because I made monthly donations. There was 100,000 MMK on it but I am too scared to complain to the Call Center to 17 Photo: Arrests warrants with the URL of their Facebook profiles against activists or NLD members aired on militaryowned channel Myawaddy TV in March 2021. (Screenshot of MWD TV) Photo: "I cannot even tell you guys how terrible it was. I need to work to keep my family from starving but now I wonder how I am going to work. As I am completely blind if I don't wear my glasses, how can I go out without them? Dad and Mom had to restrain themselves not to cry."

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