Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RANGOON27
2008-01-15 11:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Rangoon
Cable title:
BURMA: SATELLITE FEES STILL UP IN THE AIR
how-toVZCZCXRO2331 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0027 0151136 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151136Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7025 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0829 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4375 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7920 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5481 RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 3461 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1269 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: SATELLITE FEES STILL UP IN THE AIR
REF: RANGOON 11
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RANGOON 000027
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: SATELLITE FEES STILL UP IN THE AIR
REF: RANGOON 11
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. The Myanmar Times has demoted four of its
editors after the regime criticized their decision to report
a dramatic recent increase in satellite TV fees. The four
editors will be reassigned to non-editorial duties but will
not be fired, according to sources at the paper. So far, the
regime has not begun collecting the new fees and rumors they
will soon lower them continue to circulate. End Summary.
2. (C) A staff reporter told us the privately-owned Myanmar
Times weekly newspaper has demoted four of its senior editors
to administrative positions after they published a story
about the regime's increase of satellite TV fees. While they
disputed an Irrawaddy report that the four had been fired,
employees at the newspaper confirmed that officials from the
government's Press Scrutiny Board were critical of the story
and pressured management to discipline the editors. The
Myanmar Times is published by Myanmar Consolidated Media
Corporations which is owned by Danford Equities Corporation,
an Australian firm which recently announced plans to begin
exploration of offshore gas fields in 2008 (reftel).
3. (C) So far, the regime has not begun collecting the new
one million kyat (US$800) satellite TV fee which was supposed
to take effect at the start of the year. Post offices
responsible for collecting the fees in Rangoon have been
telling customers they have been instructed to hold off
enforcing the new policy, prompting speculation the
government may reverse its decision and lower the cost of a
permit. On a recent trip to Myitkyina, local contacts
confirmed to P/E Chief that the new licensing fees have not
been enforced in Kachin State either. The previous cost for
a satellite TV permit was 6,000 kyat ($5) per year. However,
our contacts and local employees told us these licenses were
never strictly enforced resulting in many illegal satellite
dishes throughout the country.
4. (C) Comment. The Than Shwe regime's approach to
satellite TV licensing demonstrates just how dysfunctional
its decision-making process is. It never formally announced
or explained the 16,000 percent increase in fees, deciding
instead to let consumers learn of it when they tried to renew
their permits. When the public reacted with shock and
resentment, the regime chose to punish four journalists from
a friendly paper for publicizing the government's own
colossally bad decision. We doubt apologizing for their
mistake ever crossed their minds. End Comment.
VILLAROSA
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP AND IO; PACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM
SUBJECT: BURMA: SATELLITE FEES STILL UP IN THE AIR
REF: RANGOON 11
Classified By: Pol Officer Sean O'Neill for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)
1. (C) Summary. The Myanmar Times has demoted four of its
editors after the regime criticized their decision to report
a dramatic recent increase in satellite TV fees. The four
editors will be reassigned to non-editorial duties but will
not be fired, according to sources at the paper. So far, the
regime has not begun collecting the new fees and rumors they
will soon lower them continue to circulate. End Summary.
2. (C) A staff reporter told us the privately-owned Myanmar
Times weekly newspaper has demoted four of its senior editors
to administrative positions after they published a story
about the regime's increase of satellite TV fees. While they
disputed an Irrawaddy report that the four had been fired,
employees at the newspaper confirmed that officials from the
government's Press Scrutiny Board were critical of the story
and pressured management to discipline the editors. The
Myanmar Times is published by Myanmar Consolidated Media
Corporations which is owned by Danford Equities Corporation,
an Australian firm which recently announced plans to begin
exploration of offshore gas fields in 2008 (reftel).
3. (C) So far, the regime has not begun collecting the new
one million kyat (US$800) satellite TV fee which was supposed
to take effect at the start of the year. Post offices
responsible for collecting the fees in Rangoon have been
telling customers they have been instructed to hold off
enforcing the new policy, prompting speculation the
government may reverse its decision and lower the cost of a
permit. On a recent trip to Myitkyina, local contacts
confirmed to P/E Chief that the new licensing fees have not
been enforced in Kachin State either. The previous cost for
a satellite TV permit was 6,000 kyat ($5) per year. However,
our contacts and local employees told us these licenses were
never strictly enforced resulting in many illegal satellite
dishes throughout the country.
4. (C) Comment. The Than Shwe regime's approach to
satellite TV licensing demonstrates just how dysfunctional
its decision-making process is. It never formally announced
or explained the 16,000 percent increase in fees, deciding
instead to let consumers learn of it when they tried to renew
their permits. When the public reacted with shock and
resentment, the regime chose to punish four journalists from
a friendly paper for publicizing the government's own
colossally bad decision. We doubt apologizing for their
mistake ever crossed their minds. End Comment.
VILLAROSA