Burma: Junta Attacks Internet Freedom

Press Release: Terry Evans

30 May

According to a recent announcement by Myanmar Teleport, technical changes are being made to prevent the use of proxy servers in Burma. Myanmar Teleport, one of the country’s two Internet Service Providers, states that the new measures are to improve service with “more reliable and robust equipment".

The Burmese junta already has severely restrictive internet policies in place, banning blogs and news sources which are critical of the country’s ruling generals. However, access to prohibited web sites has often been possible through the use of proxy servers.

This latest assault on internet freedom is a further attempt to prevent information and images being transmitted from Burma. The role of Burmese bloggers has been crucial in providing images to the outside world, as only a handful of Western journalists have managed to operate legally inside the country.

ENDS

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