News update

Shops are now removed from the road of downtown of Yangon

Earlier today , i found some people from YCDC together with a lots of police men forcing the shops to remove from the platform. They were using the force and some shop owners were detained . These shops used to be there for many years before i was born and the reason why they were removed is not clear yet. They not only detained the shop owners but collected properties of the shop keepers. It is true to say that these shops make the road more congested although a lots of accessories can be obtained from these shops. We have to wait for the reason of this event as we don't have any idea about what the junta is doing.

No Satellite : No DVB in Burma

Recently , the junta released a new taxation law on satellite TV seemingly attacking on most popular anti-goverment TV program DVB. We used to tax 6,500 kyats per year for satellite TV but now they increased the amount to 1,000,000 kyats . Everybody knows it is not fair enough and they want to ban DVB clearly . Another is that they want to promote the TV 5 program which is owned by the son of one of the ministers. But this law has not yet confirmed by junta although they released this news to local authorities .

Junta further tightens scholarship procedures

January 7, 2008 - Burma's ruling junta has further tightened the procedure for selection of scholars going abroad for further studies after reforming the selection committee.

Junta officials, during a meeting on December 27, 2007, reform the selection committee of scholarship programme by filling in more officials, with the level of directors, from several government ministries and departments.

According to the meeting Memo, scholars who are currently doing courses abroad would require returning home upon completing their courses and would only be allowed to resume further studies after the completion of serving the government for 3 years.

A Burmese student who is currently studying abroad under the scholarship programme said the move is a big blow for student who wish to continue further studies, as students would cross the age limits to continue their studies.

"By taking a break for three years in service most students would be overage to continue further studies. As most Burmese students going for scholarship are nearly overage," the student, who wish to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal told Mizzima.

According to the Memo, a copy of which is send to Mizzima by a source close to the military establishment, all students going for the programme will have to be guaranteed by their spouses or their family members, who will require to pay the sum of 5 million kyat (USD 3846) incase the student fail to return home after the programme.

"This is a kind of ransom. The government is making the students' family to sign and would not allow any family members to leave the country as a ransom against the student from staying in the host countries," the student said.

The memo, signed by secretary of the Military Government's cabinet Col Thant Shin, also imposed restrictions on women scholars to go for further studies alone but said, "at least two women should be send together for a scholarship programme."

The Memo also said that the previous selection committee formed in 1988, shall no longer be effective but recognizes the reformed committee with its new sets of criteria.

"This is only shows that the government does not care for the education of its people but are only concern for their power," the student said.

According the student, most scholarship programmes for Burmese students are funded or offered by the host countries or non-governmental organizations.

"Except for Russia and China, the government does not spend a penny on the students to go for scholarship programmes. But for Russia and China, they [the junta] sponsors military officers to go for training," added the student.

However, another student, who is preparing for the scholarship programme in Rangoon told mizzima, "rules and regulations are merely set, there are no officials from any department who is abiding strictly. Rules and regulation could be reflex if we can bribe them."

Sat TV fees drastically drop back in Burma

January 7, 2008 - Rumors are doing round in Burma's former capital city of Rangoon that the increased Satellite Television license fees would be drastically drop back from Kyat 10 million (US$800) to Kyat 50,000 (US $ 38).

In early January, Satellite Dish users in Rangoon, who went to pay the annual license fees, complaint when they find out the increased in the fee to Kyat 10 million from 6000 Kyat.

Just as several people in Rangoon as well as other parts of the country are ready to stop using Satellite Dishes due to the sudden hike in the license fee, on January 4, a rumor spread that the fee has dropped back to 50,000 kyat, which is 8 fold increased.

"There are two information spreading now, some said from 6000 Kyat it [the license fee] will increase to 50,000 Kyat. But no body knows the exact information as yet. The telecommunication office said they have not receive any direction on this regard and refuse to accept any license fees," a local resident of Rangoon, who went to the Mayangone telecommunication office to pay the annual fee for Satellite dish.

Another local resident of Rangoon's Bahan Township said, "Today I heard people were saying that the fees will be 50,000."

An official at the Yankin Telecommunication office, when contacted by Mizzima, refuse to answer, stating that there has been no official notification or direction on the matter.

However, a Burmese blog site named 'Dr. Lwun Swe' confirmed the information and said several Rangoon residents have re-install their Satellite Dishes, which they have it down last week.

The information, however, could not be independently confirmed.