BURMESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BLOCK INTERNET

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000970

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/MLS; EB/CIP/BA
PACOM FOR FPA;
TREASURY FOR OASIA:SCHUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: ECON ECPS PGOV BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO BLOCK INTERNET

REF: A. RANGOON 941


B. RANGOON 718

RANGOON 00000970 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4
(b,d)


1. (C) Summary. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
and Myanmar Teleport, Burma's two internet service providers
(ISPs),continue to block access to the internet, following a
September 27 government order to cut service. Myanmar
Teleport subscribers can still send email to other local
subscribers, but the government continues to closely monitor
all outgoing messages. Several businesses have access to the
internet through IPSTAR, a broadband service provided through
a Thai satellite, although they fear the GOB will pressure
the Thais to cut service. The GOB has not yet identified
those people who sent pictures and information about the
violent crackdown on protestors, despite efforts.
Telecommunications officials who are able to track down the
bloggers have made a decision not to do so. End Summary.

Basic Internet Still Down
--------------


2. (C) On September 27, the Burmese Government, in an effort
to prevent pictures of violence against protestors from
hitting the international news, ordered the two national
internet service providers (ISPs) to shut down the Internet
(Ref A). One provider, the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunications (MPT),immediately shut down its
operations, while the other, semi-private Myanmar Teleport
(formally Bagan Cybertech),fully implemented the order on
September 29. Both ISPs continue to tell their subscribers
that they are working to fix problems with underwater cables,
the cause for the service interruption. Internet cafes in
Rangoon remain closed, and several cafe owners have lamented
the loss of business and their livelihoods. The Government
does not care about the people, one owner complained.


3. (C) One Embassy contact who works in the
telecommunications industry informed us that Myanmar Teleport
customers still have the ability to send emails, albeit only
to addresses within the country (those with an .mm
designation). He cautioned that government officials are
reading all emails carefully, particularly those with large
attachments. As a result, it takes an average of three days
to send an email domestically, and not all emails are
received.


4. (C) Several businessmen have told us that despite the
GOB's attempt to curtail internet services, they can still
access the internet through IPSTAR broadband connections.
Because IPSTAR is a satellite service based out of Thailand,
the Burmese Government cannot shut down access, they
explained. They did note their fear that the GOB may try to
pressure the Thais to cut off service to Burma. While
connectivity is quite good, IPSTAR is prohibitively expensive
for most Burmese; it has less than 1,000 subscribers in
Burma, most of which are businesses.

Bloggers' Identity Remains Unknown
--------------


5. (C) In Burma, the use of blogs to express views or
disseminate information is not new, one Embassy contact
explained. Blogs are cheap to maintain, and do not require a
dedicated website. In 2006, a group of bloggers, working
with the Myanmar Computer Professional Association,
established the Myanmar Bloggers Society to organize blog
enthusiasts from around the country. Currently, there are
more than 100 Burmese blog websites, one-third of which are
written in English. Of the 100 blogs, approximately 30
percent were anti-government, and 50 percent focused on

RANGOON 00000970 002.2 OF 002


general topics, such as music and entertainment. According
to our contact, the government is working to shut down many
of the English-language blogs that mention the recent
crackdown on protestors. Many blogs have not been updated
since September 27, although some dedicated bloggers have
been bypassing the ban by dialing directly into Thailand for
internet service.


6. (C) The Burmese Government has not yet discovered the
identity of the bloggers who wrote about the senseless
violence against monks and civilians, according to a private
telecommunications official. In late September, government
officials interrogated eight telecommunications engineers
from Myanmar Teleport and MPT about the blogs. The engineers
informed the government that it did not have the software,
equipment, or ability to track the bloggers. Our contact,
who is close to two of the engineers, noted that the
engineers could ping the websites to track down the bloggers,
but made a choice to not do so. To date, none of the
anti-government bloggers have been identified, he stated.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Despite the GOB's efforts to block the internet,
graphic footage of attacks by security forces on protestors
and innocent bystanders continues to find its way to the
international media, due largely to the assistance Embassy
Rangoon has provided local journalists and political
activists who are bringing us their footage. People remain
determined to show the world what is really happening in
Burma, putting themselves in danger and going to great
lengths to do so. Therefore, we will continue to assist them.


VILLAROSA