Over the weekend, Facebook removed the main page for Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw, following violent clashes between the armed force and civilian protesters after a government coup earlier in the month.
“In line with our global policies, we’ve removed the Tatmadaw True News Information Team Page from Facebook for repeated violations of our Community Standards prohibiting incitement of violence and coordinating harm,” a Facebook representative said in a statement.
Two people died in the city of Mandalay on Saturday after military and police personnel opened fire on a group of demonstrators. The violence and mass demonstrations follow the Tatmadaw’s overthrow of Myanmar’s democratic government and the arrest of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was charged with illegally possessing communication devices.
Suu Kyi’s charges were upgraded last week after authorities alleged she broke a law used to prosecute those who violated coronavirus protocols in the country. Military leaders also commissioned an internet blackout as leaders began to draft laws that would prohibit speaking ill of the regime.
NEW CHARGES FILED AGAINST OUSTED LEADER IN MYANMAR COUP OVER ALLEGED COVID-19 VIOLATIONS
The United Nations has denounced the actions of the Tatmadaw and “have called for charges against her to be dropped, for her to be released,” U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Suu Kyi’s legacy, which hailed her as a humanitarian leader, may have been marred by the massacre of Rohingya Muslim minorities in recent years.
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“There are no good guys,” a European Union official said, underscoring the degree to which European leaders have soured on the Suu Kyi. “But still, the civilian government and situation in a society which tries to complete the transition toward at least [a] partially democratic society and civilian-run society is much better than the alternative of having a junta military regime in power.”
Facebook did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
