death, persecution, displacement – this unholy triad has Myanmar been decades in the handle. Since 1948, with the independence of the Southeast Asian peoples, to fight rebel groups from ethnic minorities in different parts of the country for more independence against the Central government and its army. For many, the armed conflicts are considered to be the longest running civil war in the world.

Last week, on Tuesday, has turned on Facebook in the conflict. The Social Media giant announced that it plans to ban the Profiles of the four rebel groups from the platform. To reduce a step in the efforts of the network, hate speech and incitement to violence on the platform. About the process, among other things, the U.S. broadcaster CNN reported.

The move could, however, have the only purpose of the contrary, because the choice remains a mystery. According to CNN, 15 of the rebel groups in Myanmar, active, of Facebook four are banished to the first of them. The step carries a political explosives, and raises a number of questions.

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in Order to understand the influence of the social network has on the country and its population, it helps to look at the Numbers: In Myanmar, around 53 million people (as of 2017), and about 18 million are registered on Facebook. It is a country where just a few years ago – according to CNN – only about 0.3 percent of the population has an Internet connection have owned. For many people in Myanmar, Facebook has become a Synonym for the Internet, the first and only address for news and information.

And incorrect information.

The United Nations (UN) accused the Social Media giant a key role in the dissemination of hate speech, violence call and to have false information played, which would have fired the Rohingya conflict (click here to read a star report on the subject). “Everything is done over Facebook,” said an investigator of the UN.

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Facebook vowed to improve. Since August, the social network would have locked up hundreds of Profiles, writes CNN. The least affected by the rebel groups Facebook provides to be “dangerous organisations”. There is no doubt.

Facebook argues to CNN in a Statement: “There is clear evidence that these organizations are responsible for attacks on civilians and responsible for violence in Myanmar have exercised”. With the spell of Facebook they wanted to prevent more conflicts to ignite.

But why these four rebel groups were banned in Myanmar, the Northern Alliance, and not other, and more? Who or what is in the eyes of Facebook is “dangerous”?

The issue, according to Facebook’s standards

“For me, it is not clear whether Facebook creates any standard for legitimacy”, is quoted by Aaron L. Connelly of CNN, political expert for South-East Asia. Also the Facebook can spell and understand: The (so far) non-affected rebel groups are in Facebook’s eyes at least, more legitimate than the now banned groups. Also this, as well as the military of Myanmar will have to be responsible for numerous atrocities. The atrocities range from the recruitment of child soldiers to the rape and murder of civilians.

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“so The question is, what is the difference? What is the principle decides on the Facebook that the Northern Alliance is not legitimate and the Central government in Myanmar is legitimate?”, expert Conelly asks. Questions such as these Facebook replies to CNN, little in concrete terms: The “sources of ethnic violence in Myanmar are incredibly complex and cannot be solved by a Social Media company,” for example. They wanted to do “the best”, “to limit incitement, and hatred in an already deadly conflict”.

the announcement of the Facebook is considered to be suspicious, “to all” with the four affected rebel groups affiliated organizations may be shut out. Many see this step as even more problematic, writes CNN: Facebook could expand the spell so radical that also the (auxiliary)organizations or civilians – who have nothing to do with the conflicts in the hat, but based in the Region are likely to be affected by the lock. So your voices could.

sources: CNN, Reuters

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