Khaing Min — Two men staged a silent protest on April 7 in Kyaukphyu town, Arakan State, demanding that entry of oil tankers and foreigners to the port here be suspended in order to prevent coronavirus spread.

Ko Myo Lwin, who led the protest, told DMG that the pair demonstrated because they were worried about the virus also known as COVID-19 infecting local residents due to the frequent entry of oil tankers and foreigners at Kyauktaw Township’s Maday Island.

“COVID-19 is a threat to the world and oil tankers are still entering at Kyaukphyu Township. The ships carry foreigners, and so we are worried that the deadly virus will infect local residents via foreigners,” he said.

Ko Myo Lwin and Ko Thein Nyunt protested near a signboard at the entrance of Kyaukphyu town while Chinese oil tankers departing from the Maday Island port were passing by the town.

As of April 8, the number of coronavirus cases in Myanmar stood at 22, with three of those patients dying from the disease, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. The government meanwhile has suspended all international commercial flights into Myanmar through April 13.

The two protesters also demanded the immediate end to an internet ban affecting nine townships in Arakan and Chin states, to allow impacted residents to more easily receive information and education about the coronavirus pandemic in real time.

“One more intention of the protest is to lift the internet ban here so that our people can receive information about COVID-19 through the internet,” Ko Myo Lwin said.

The internet ban in eight Arakan State townships, and Chin State’s Paletwa Township, has been in place for nearly 10 months, with local CSOs and foreign embassies among those urging that access be restored.