Mobile phone operators suspended internet data on June 21 in eight townships across northern Rakhine and one in neighbouring Chin state - where soldiers are fighting ethnic Rakhine rebels known as the Arakan Army (AA) who want greater autonomy. Authorities say the internet was being used to coordinate operations while rights groups allege the blackout permits troops to act with impunity. Northern Rakhine state is also the site of a brutal 2017 army campaign that drove more than 740,000 Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh. NGO Fortify Rights said the internet shutdown was one of the world's longest ever and was affecting an estimated one million civilians. According to state media the AA fired two rockets at navy boats anchored off of northern Rakhine on Saturday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 22, 2019 11:15 UTC