Win Htein, a significant aide of Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s recently ousted leader, was arrested on Friday. Htein was an important member of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party (NLD).
This moves comes just days after the military seized control of Myanmar, overthrowing the democratically elected government. Earlier this week, access to Facebook and other social media sites was also blocked.
The ministry of communications revealed that Facebook would remain blocked over the weekend in an attempt to restrain and curb “fake news and disinformation” along with unrest in the country.
“Currently, the people, who are troubling the country’s stability, are spreading fake news and misinformation, and causing misunderstanding among people by using Facebook,” it said.
Myanmar’s military seized power in a military coup early on Monday morning, detaining democratically elected civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi alongside other members of her party, National League for Democracy (NLD). The Myanmar army claims to have carried out the action in response to “election fraud”.
