Myanmar: Thousands protest, army blocks internet

Myanmar's military blocked the internet in the country on Saturday, while thousands protested in the country's largest city, Yangon. It was the biggest demonstration since the coup in the early week.

As the number of protesters increased, witnesses announced the closure of mobile data services and Internet connection. Earlier, the military had ordered mobile operators and internet companies to block access to Twitter and Instagram.

A temporary ban was imposed earlier on Facebook, where half of the country's 54 million population are users. Before the impasse, many users were using the platform to express their opposition to the military coup.

The Ministry of Communication and Information did not immediately respond to a request for comments, but earlier said it had blocked Facebook in service of “stability”. A Facebook spokesman confirmed to Reuters that the Instagram, part of Facebook company, was blocked.

A spokesperson for the social Twitter network said that “will continue to raise voices to stop the government-run devastating blocks. ”

The Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor, one of the largest in Myanmar, voiced concern in a statement and said it had protested the authorities, challenging the necessity of the order. /