Border News Agency
Kyauktaw, June 11.
In the areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA), the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is reportedly providing communication services to the people of Arakan, according to local residents.
Since the outbreak of the decisive war in Arakan, phone and internet communication lines in the region have been cut off and remain inaccessible.
Therefore, in order to facilitate communication for the people of Arakan, the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government has reportedly purchased and installed Starlink devices and is providing internet services for a fee, according to local residents.
“In Rakhine, phone and internet services are no longer available, so the AA has set up Starlink devices and opened connections in every township. People have to pay a fee to use the service at designated locations,” a local resident told Border News Agency.
Residents say they are paying around 5,000 kyats per hour to use the Starlink internet service at designated locations, while in some townships the rate is about 3,000 kyats per hour – leading to price differences depending on the area.
Although users are required to wait in line to get access cards and usage permission cards for the internet, due to the high number of users, many are experiencing slow and unstable internet connections, according to those currently using the service.
Additionally, residents say that individuals are allowed to use the internet for only one hour per day, which makes it difficult to communicate with family members inside and outside the country or to handle important matters.
However, they added that some high-ranking AA officials, their family members, and certain close associates have been granted permission to purchase and use personal Starlink devices. As a result, many believe that equal access should be provided to all residents of Arakan, and the service should be expanded and made available across all townships.
“It feels like they’re just trying to profit off people without any regard. We don’t know whether it’s the top leaders ordering this or if it’s being done by those on the ground. Either way, it’s clearly a business move, and the fees need to be reduced. During such a difficult time, the Arakan Army shouldn’t be putting people through more hardship like this. I never imagined we’d have to pay 5,000 kyats just to use the internet for one hour. If they’re going to provide phone and internet services, they should make it accessible across the entire state,” a local resident told Border News Agency.
According to local residents, people in Arakan are using personal mobile phones with internet access through prepaid cards that contain a 10-digit code. For regular phone calls, they rely on MEC SIM cards and the phones distributed by the authorities.
Residents added that call charges using MEC cards are around 1,000 kyats per minute in some areas, while other townships charge around 500 kyats per minute. However, in certain places, the cost reportedly goes as high as 1,000 kyats per minute, indicating significant price differences between townships.
Although the Arakan Army (AA) has justified the strict regulations and limited services by citing the threat of airstrikes from the Myanmar junta and the need for security during wartime, local residents argue that such restrictions are violating their basic human rights.
“The claim that services were cut off due to concerns over airstrike threats is just an excuse they’re giving. In reality, using the connections they provide at designated locations is even more dangerous. They themselves have shut down phone lines across the entire state. People now have to pay them to access communication services. Cutting off public phone and internet access is a deliberate violation of human rights. It’s like living under an information blackout. I don’t even have the words to describe this situation,” a local resident told Border News Agency.
In the final phase of the Arakan war, the Arakan Army has completely secured fifteen townships, including the Paletwa area, and is providing public services as the Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government.
According to local residents, the technology department of this Arakan People’s Revolutionary Government is offering Starlink internet and phone call services for a fee.
The technology department is reportedly led by Ko Aung Myat Kyaw, who is responsible for managing it. According to local residents, some money transfer operators in Mrauk U town, including certain hotels, have been allowed to purchase and use their own Starlink devices.
Under the government led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD), the people of Arakan experienced one of the longest internet shutdowns in the world.
The Myanmar government has also pledged to implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.10, which is part of the United Nations’ decade-long agenda on access to information and fundamental freedoms.
Therefore, the government has the responsibility to ensure that the public’s rights to phone and internet access, as well as their right to information, are upheld. If violations occur, the international community can take actions to condemn and sanction such breaches.
