Nov 05, 2010
YANGON - Internet services in Myanmar have been shut down by cyber attacks,
days before a landmark election on Sunday, sparking fears of a communication
outage during the polls.
News websites reported that Myanmar's Internet system had been flooded by a
series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, crippling network
traffic.
Myanmar's Internet servers usually handle 100Mbps of data a day but the DDoS
attacks have hit Internet service providers with more than 100 times the
usual amount of traffic. Widespread Internet outages and slowdowns have been
occurring since Oct 25, the Myanmar Times reported this week.
Rights groups had said that the junta was attempting to slow the Internet
connection.
The junta reportedly blocked all websites and services during a bloody
crackdown on anti-government protests in 2007, as bloggers posted pictures
and videos of the protests.
Meanwhile, an exile news agency said six armed ethnic groups in Myanmar have
forged an agreement to join forces. The reported alliance comes amid fears
that war could break out between the government and several ethnic groups
who have denounced the elections.
The India-based Mizzima agency said yesterday that the "landmark deal" was
struck on Tuesday in the Thai town of Mae Hong Son and included the most
powerful ethnic armies from the Karen, Karenni, Chin, Kachin, Mon and Shan
minorities. Agencies
