From: Mizzima News Group
EMail: tech_savvy00@yahoo.com
E-mail Users in Burma
Rangoon, April 4, 2001
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)
While the Internet and electronic mail (Email) have become an easily available mean of communication for people in many countries around the world, it is still a tightly-controlled business privileged to a few ones in this military-run country.
At present, the Myanmar Post and Telecommunications (MPT), which is one of the departments of Ministry of Communications, Posts & Telegraphs, control all the Email accounts in the country. Besides military generals and their associates, some private companies such as members of Myanmar computer entrepreneurs association, hotels and travel tours can apply to get Email accounts.
But in applying Email account, they have to submit the documents such as company registration certificate, type of modem, the reason for the use, etc. But the most important thing to do is to “hook” someone in the Junta and bribe him, which in turn, will make it easier and faster. At present, a common citizen cannot get an Email account at all.
There are also some business groups, which are using others’ Email accounts, as their companies do not have own Email. Moreover, there are four or five shops in Rangoon downtown, particularly on Pansoedan Street in Kyuaktadar Township, which give you email service to send or receive messages. Kyat 300 (US $ 0.6) for one-time use either for sending or receiving!
But you will have to make sure yourself that there is nothing on politics in your email messages because all these shops are strictly surveillanced or controlled by the country’s notorious military intelligence.