We’re on our second day of the seminar/workshop and some of the representatives of the 11 countries that attended this event were given the opportunity to present their current situation. We had Soe Aung of Burma and Mamood Ahmed Khan of Pakistan taking the floor and explaining the issues concerning their respective countries.
One of the shocking facts I learned from Burma’s represetative was the prohibitive cost of connectivity and communication.
- USD$500 – the cost to setup a dial-up account.
- USD$3,000 – the ost to have broadband/DSL setup in your home
- USD$5,000 – the cost of having your own personal mobile phone
Likewise, you need to apply for a license just to own a fax machine or a modem. If you are caught with one without a license, you could go to jail for 7 to 10 years! Yes, the government practically controls these channels of communication which is why gatherings such as these are important to the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.
Makes you really appreciate the slow and erratic Smart Bro for $20 a month right?
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Unfortunately, Myanmar is still under a repressive authoritarian regime. Control of information is an absolute must to control the people. Its really sad what the Burmese have had to deal with in the past 3 or 4 decades.