Musk also shuts down Starlink in Myanmar

In recent months, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has restricted connections to his Starlink terminals not only in Ukraine, hampering defences against Russian missiles and communications between Kyiv’s troops, to the detriment of Ukrainian civilians. Even in areas controlled by rebels opposing the junta in Myanmar, satellite internet service is essential for defending against the air strikes that have been devastating the Burmese population since the coup on 1 February 2021. For the Tatmadaw, the Burmese army, the American terminals are illegal, and other internet services are also restricted in many parts of the country; however, Burmese people have begun to bring them into Myanmar with Musk’s approval.

The democratic government-in-exile uses the system to remotely manage schools and hospitals in liberated areas; it has also become essential for humanitarian workers. However, sources report that the service has been deactivated in recent months, and SpaceX (as with Kyiv) has not provided any specific explanations, other than that the decision was reportedly taken (as with Kyiv) under pressure from the US government. Armed ethnic groups had begun using Starlink as part of an early-warning system to alert civilians to air raids by the military. Without this system, the Burmese army’s drones are lethal, not least because they are becoming increasingly sophisticated. An article published a few days ago by Intelligence Online revealed, citing resistance sources who had taken photographs, that the drones used by the Tatmadaw are polystyrene replicas of the Gerbera drones – the same type used by Russia in Ukraine and manufactured by a Chinese company – and that some Russian soldiers are reportedly in certain areas of Myanmar to conduct training missions and provide operational support to the junta, sometimes piloting the drones themselves. Just last week, an air strike by the Burmese army killed 12 civilians and injured over thirty in Rakhine State, in western Myanmar, which the junta is attempting to recapture. Without Starlink, it will be easier.