Government blocks access to website of group exposing military’s business ties 

The Myanmar government has blocked access to the website of a group of activists working to expose high-level corruption and shine light on the military’s business interests.

Justice for Myanmar said it would not be deterred by “government censorship” after access to its site, justiceformyanmar.org, was blocked late last month. 

“Justice For Myanmar will not bow down to the Myanmar government’s attempts to silence us,” said Yadanar Maung, a spokesperson for the group. 

The group, which launched in April, recently revealed that two directors at MEHL, a military-owned conglomerate, also held senior official posts. The revelation forced the ex-generals to retire from MEHL’s board of directors. 

Made up of activists who have chosen to keep their identities secret, the group is also one of the few voices in Myanmar to speak out on behalf of the Rohingya and label the military’s 2017 campaign against them a genocide. 

In May the group revealed that a luxury real estate project would enrich the military with rental payments and help to fund what it labelled “genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The government also blocked the websites of several ethnic media organisations in April, including those reporting on the military’s operations against the Arakan Army in Rakhine. 

“We demand the unblocking of all media and civil society websites,” said Yadanar Maung. 

“The people of Myanmar have the right to know the ways in which state funds are being misappropriated and public assets stolen, which are supposed to be used for the well-being of the people and future generations,” she added. 

“The information we bring to the people is nothing but the truth… However, instead of engaging in public debate and accountability, the civilian government has chosen repression and is attempting to cover-up the military’s wrongdoing.”  

Myo Swe, director general of the Department of Telecommunications, did not answer calls from Myanmar Now on Tuesday evening seeking comment on the decision to block the website. 

Yadanar Maung said: “The government is elected by the people and must be accountable to them only, not the unelected and corrupt military cartel that commits grave violations against the people.”