We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, strongly condemn the Myanmar military for continuing to impose communication blackouts, including internet shutdowns, following Myanmar’s worst earthquake in history. We call for restrictions on internet services, including social media platforms and news media websites, to be immediately lifted.
On March 28, 2025, Myanmar experienced a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, the strongest ever recorded in the country’s history, impacting at least 67 townships. The epicenter was in Sagaing city, near Mandalay, the central part of the country. The most affected areas include Sagaing, Mandalay, and the country’s capital, Naypyitaw. The death toll has risen to more than 2,000 as of March 31 and continues to climb.
However, despite this dire situation and the urgent need for emergency rescue efforts to save those trapped under the rubble, as of this announcement — more than 48 hours after the earthquake — the Myanmar military has still not lifted its internet shutdown orders and various internet restrictions, which are essential for coordinating live-saving emergency responses.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Myanmar military’s ongoing crackdown on communication services following such a devastating disaster, showing a blatant disregard for the threat imposed on civilian lives. We demand the immediate and unconditional restoration of internet and communications services to ensure full access, as well as the lifting of any restrictions on people’s rights to information. We call on the military to be held accountable for all loss of life and suffering caused by these various internet restrictions.
We condemn the military and its actions in the strongest possible terms, and demand the following from Military Chief Min Aung Hlaing and his forces:
- Restore internet access immediately across the country. Cutting off connectivity in the wake of a humanitarian crisis is a deliberate act of harm. All remaining internet shutdowns must be lifted now.
- Lift all internet censorship measures, including the “firewall” systems on internet gateways, which force people to rely on VPNs that slow down already limited bandwidth, disturbing rescue efforts where every second counts.
- End all restrictions on media and media freedom. Immediately lift any restrictions on journalists and stop disrupting their work via measures such as threats and arrests.
- Stop all military oppression immediately and unconditionally, including forced conscription, arbitrary arrests, executions, threats, and airstrikes. These actions have hindered emergency relief efforts and caused the loss of more lives.
- The military council must take full accountability for imposing internet shutdowns and restricting public access to information during the earthquake. These actions not only disrupted the flow of critical information but also led to preventable deaths by hindering timely rescue efforts. The loss of lives and widespread suffering caused by these deliberate restrictions are solely the responsibility of the military council.
We call on the international community, governments, UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and tech companies to
- Pressure the junta to lift any ongoing internet shutdowns and internet restrictions so that people can seek urgent help and communicate with the outside world.
- Pressure the junta to end restrictions on public access to information and media freedom as per international access to information and media protocols.
- Support emergency connectivity solutions to bypass internet shutdowns through local groups and ensure that affected communities can communicate.
- Ensure that emergency aid, including support with emergency communication, does not fall into military hands to be misused and abused as a tool for oppression.
Restore internet access now — before countless more people perish needlessly.
Signatories
A collective of Myanmar, regional, and international digital rights organizations
Contact:
Htaike Htaike Aung (Myanmar Internet Project) – htaike@myanmarinternet.info
Wai Phyo Myint (Access Now) – waiphyo@accessnow.org
Eupoke (Athan) – eupoke@athanmm.org
List of signatories:
- 5/ of Zaya State Strike
- A-Yar-Taw People Strike
- Access Now
- Activate Rights ( Bangladesh)
- Afia-Amani Grands-Lacs
- Africa Media and Information Technology Initiative (AfriMITI)
- All Aung Myay Thar San Schools Strike Force
- Alliance of Students’ Union – Yangon (ASU-Yangon)
- Alternatives (Montreal)
- Alternative Solutions for Rural Communities (ASORCOM)
- Anti-Junta Alliance Yangon-AJAY
- AFCC Anti Junta Force Coordination Committee
- ASEAN SOGIE Caucus (ASC)
- Asociación Ciudad ViVa
- Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
- Association Suisse-Birmanie
- Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
- Ayeyarwady Youth Network
- Basic Education Worker Unions – Steering Committee (BEWU-SC)
- Burma Academy
- Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS)
- Burma Podcast Network
- CAN – Myanmar
- CDM Medical Network (CDMMN)
- Centre for Independent Journalism (Malaysia)
- Center for Information Technology and Development (Nigeria)
- Central European Institute of Asian Studies
- Chaung Oo Township Youth Strike Committee
- Chin Human Rights Organization (CHRO)
- Civil Information Network (CIN)
- Coalition for Democracy (C4D)
- Coalition Strike Committee – Dawei
- Cooperativa Sulá Batsú (Costa Rica)
- Data Ethnics PH
- Dawei Youths Revolutionary Movement Strike Committee
- Defend Myanmar Democracy-DMD
- Depayin Township Revolution Steering Committee
- Derechos Digitales
- DigiSec Lab
- Digital Rights Collective
- Doh Ayay
- EngageMedia
- EsLaRed
- Ethnic Youth General Strike Committee (Mandalay)
- Exile Hub
- Fantsuam Foundation (Nigeria)
- FORUMVERT
- Foundation for Media Alternatives
- Free Press Unlimited
- General Strike Collaboration Committee (GSCC)
- General Strike Committee of Basic and Higher Education (GSCBHE)
- Generation Wave
- Global Voices
- GMSR Korea 글로벌 미얀마 봄혁명 연대 -တကမ္ဘာလုံးဆိုင်ရာ မြန်မာ့နွေဦးတော်လှန်ရေး
- GreenNet
- Human Rights Journalists Network Nigeria
- Info Birmanie
- JCA-NET(Japan)
- Jokkolabs Banjul (Gambia)
- Kachin Student Union
- Kalay Township Strike Force
- Kanbalu Strike Committee
- KengTung Youth Network
- KICTANet
- Korea University Law School International Human Rights Clinic
- Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet
- Kurdistan without Genocide
- Kyain Seikgyi Spring Revolution Leading Committee
- Kyauk Padaung Youth Network
- Kyaukse Youth Network
- LaborNET
- Latpadaung Region Strike Committee
- LaLibre.net Tecnologías Comunitarias
- LGBT Alliance
- Life campaign to abolish the death sentence in Kurdistan
- Mandalay CDM Organization
- Magway People’s Revolution Committee
- Mandalay Medical Family (MFM)
- Mandalay Regional Youth Network
- Mandalay Strike Force (MSF)
- Mandalay-Based University Students’ Unions (MDY_SUs)
- Manushya Foundation
- MayMyo Strike Force
- May First Movement Technology
- Miaan Group
- Monywa People’s Strike Steering Committee
- Monywa-Amyint Road Strike Leading Committee
- MATA Saging
- Myanmar Fact Checking Network (MFCN)
- Myanmar Internet Project
- Myanmar Labor Alliance (MLA)
- Myanmar Studies Center at Palacky University
- Myanmar Tourism Committee
- Myaung Education Network
- Myaung Youth Network
- Myingyan Civilian Movement Committee
- Narrative Power
- National Youth Congress (NYC)
- New Rehmonnya Federated Force
- Nyan Corridor
- Nyan Lynn Thit Analytica
- Nyaung Oo Youth Network
- Nyimuyar Initiative
- OCTOPUS (Youth Organization)
- Open Net (Korea)
- Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI)
- Organization of the Justice Campaign
- Pale Township People’s Strike Steering Committee
- PEN America
- Pollicy
- PROTEGE QV
- Public Virtue Research Institute
- Purple Window Counselling
- Pyi Gyi Tagon Strike Force
- Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales (R3D)
- Redes por la Diversidad, Equidad y Sustentabilidad A.C.
- Rhizomatica
- Right2Know Campaign (South Africa)
- Shwe Pan Kone People`s Strike Steering Committee
- Sinar Project
- Sisters 2 Sisters
- South East Asia Collaborative Policy Network (SEA CPN)
- Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
- Southern Monitor
- Spring Revolution Security
- Spring Sprouts
- Spring University Myanmar
- Sursiendo (Mexico)
- SynergyWORKS Africa
- Ta’ang Women’s Organization _TWO
- Taller de Comunicacion Mujer
- Tanintharyi Youth Network (TYN)
- Taze Strike Committee
- Tech Global Institute
- TEDIC Paraguay
- The Peace Centre (South Africa)
- The Red Flag
- UMass Lowell Myanmar Students Club
- U.S. Campaign for Burma
- University of Medicine Mandalay Students’ Union Revolution Front (UMMSURF)
- University Students’ Unions Alumni Force
- Wetlet Revolution Leading Committee
- White Coat Society Yangon (WCSY)
- WHAT TO FIX
- Women Alliance Burma (WAB)
- Women’s Peace Network (WPN)
- Women Of Uganda Network (WOUGNET)
- Yadanabon University Students’ Union (YDNBUSU)
- Yasakyo Township People`s Strike Steering Committee
- Viet Tan
- Yinmarpin and Salingyi All Villages Strike Committee
- Youth Development Institute (YDI)
- Zaina Foundation
- မန်းတိုင်းစုံစည်းရာ
- အညာလွင်ပြင်ရပ်ဝန်း
- 2 Undisclosed organization (due to security concern)
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