Burma Campaign UK today slammed American web services company Cloudflare as ‘complete hypocrites’ for terminating its services for the 8chan website, used by terrorist white nationalists involved in mass shootings in America and elsewhere, whilst still working for Min Aung Hlaing, head of the Burmese military. United Nations investigators have said Min Aung Hlaing should be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court for genocide of the ethnic Rohingya from Burma.
“Cloudflare are complete hypocrites, saying they draw the line at content on 8chan while at the same time working for a military leader responsible for genocide,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “The only conclusion that can be drawn is that Cloudflare see American lives as more valuable and important than the lives of the Rohingya. You only cross a line for Cloudflare when you kill Americans, not foreigners.”
Cloudflare provides website services for Min Aung Hlaing’s personal website, and for the military-controlled Burmese police force, which also played a role in the genocide of the Rohingya in addition to numerous other human rights violations across the country.
In December 2018 Burma Campaign UK placed Cloudflare on its ‘Dirty List’ of companies linked to Burma’s military. Cloudflare have not responded to correspondence from Burma Campaign UK but defended working for Min Aung Hlaing when approached by media.
In 2016 and 2017 Min Aung Hlaing ordered major military offensives against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma. The main target of the military offensives was children. Almost 800,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh. The Burmese military and security forces used horrific violations against the Rohingya, including mass rape, including of children, and killing thousands of people.
On 17th July the US government designated Min Aung Hlaing as being responsible for gross human rights violations and banned Min Aung Hlaing from visiting America. United Nations investigators have said doing any form of business with the military is indefensible.
Facebook and Twitter have taken down accounts for Min Aung Hlaing because of their role in inspiring hate. Min Aung Hlaing’s website has identical content to what was on Facebook and Twitter.
“You don’t build a better internet, as Cloudflare claim to be doing, by working for genocidal generals,” said Mark Farmaner. “This is not about being a content arbiter, it’s about Cloudfare working for someone whose soldiers rape and execute children.”
Cloudflare’s statement on 8chan is available here.
Cloudflare’s entry on the ‘Dirty List’ is available here.
Cloudflare quoted in this Guardian article re working for Min Aung Hlaing.