The military responded to the protests with bloody repression. At least 550 people have been killed by junta forces, according to the support group of the Association of Political Prisoners Assistance (AAPP).
At least 2,751 people, including journalists, protesters, activists, government officials, trade unionists, writers, students, civilians and even children, have been detained, often in night raids, according to AAPP.
On Friday, most Myanmar citizens found themselves without internet access after telecommunications companies were instructed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications to shut down wireless broadband internet services.
Clients of the telecommunications company Ooredoo received text messages the night before saying that wireless services will be turned off until further notice. The directive was dated 1 April. Most customers in Myanmar connect to the Internet through wireless data services, and the move will only allow those with physical connections to access the web.
Mobile data was also disabled for the 19th day, according to the Netblocks internet monitor.
CNN contacted the Myanmar army for comments when the wireless internet is turned off.
While the military is restricting the flow of information, dozens of journalists have been detained by security forces, according to the UN, as well as citizens who spoke to the press, according to reports.
A CNN team spoke with residents on Friday while visiting a bazaar in the city of Insein in Yangon. CNN is in Myanmar with the permission of the military and is escorted by the military, including during the market visit.
Two women were arrested after that, according to a report in the local press The Irrawaddy. The report included an eyewitness account that a woman was seen talking to the CNN team. It is not clear from this account whether the woman was among those arrested shortly. An impromptu anti-regime protest erupted while the team was present, the report added.
Several unconfirmed reports posted on social networks said that at least two people were taken by the security forces after talking to the CNN team.
CNN contacted the Myanmar army for comments on the reported detentions.
In its latest briefing, AAPP said it could confirm the location of “only a small fraction” of the recent detainees it identified.