I have been using www.anonymization.net to read news and go to banned sites. The following is a screen shot of www.irrawaddy.org through anonymization proxy.

However, I found this interesting. I couldn't go to http://www.geocities.com/zawmoethann using anonymization.net.

I managed to visit the site http://www.geocities.com/zawmoethann using a different proxy service. (Disclaimer: I don't know the validity of the story on that page. I am just testing technical aspects of proxy services inside Burma.)

My conclusion: The ISP knows that people are using anonymization services, but they deliberately allowed it turing a blind eye to the services. When there is something they really don't want people to read, they banned it even through the proxy service they know. I was able to get around using a different proxy service they don't know. Um.... strange.

I finally got my passport today. What a long and depressing headache to go through! I applied for it on October 5. I even wrote some experiences in my ALOHA.

Cute Burmese kids playing!

I was trying to register with some free web hosting services. After a lot of "DansGuardian - Access Denied" messages, I was successfully able to register at a few sites. However, when I tried to log into one of the services, I found my access completely denied because the server was using port 445 to listen to my log-in attempt. My proxy server from BaganNet didn't allow any traffic to non-standard (non-8080/80) ports. It was a bummer.

This morning, I went to Kan Daw Gyi Park in Rangoon (Yangon) because BARS computer science students had a retreat to welcome freshmen. Here are some pictures.

The Sign said "10,000 Kyats Fine for Trashing"

A Beautiful Scene in Kan Daw Gyi Park

The taxi driver on my way home from University Avenue told me how people were upset with the recent political changes and how many people had real difficulties making ends meet these days. I paid him Kyats 1,800 for the trip. It's 9 % of my monthly salary at the Myanmar Institute of Theology. Guess how much I make a month :-) :-)

I think this news piece relates to my own experiences. Back in 1994, 95, 96, there were more job opportunities compared to today. Many young people are now leaving for Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore for blue-collar jobs. More brain drains.

http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=4115&z=109

The Trade Policy Council

Deputy Sr-Gen Maung Aye's record as chairman of the Trade Policy Council gives little cause for optimism.

In 1998 the Trade Policy Council was set up with overall control of all issues related to private sector commerce. The council was probably formed to weaken the position of Khin Nyunt, who had loyalists in charge of all the relevant ministries that would have to answer to it.

Maung Aye immediately rolled back many of the modest economic reforms put in place over the previous nine years (most of the liberalization happened 1989-94 under Brig-Gen David Abel). It became very difficult to get import permits or the licenses required to open a factory. Issuing permits became a major instrument of patronage.

Unable to get import permits for raw materials, foreign businesses pulled out; Burma became possibly the most expensive place in the world to buy a second-hand car; the economy continued its downward spiral.

Recent changes in Burmese politics cause delays in my passport application process. The power struggle between the generals reminds me of the days of the Burmese dynasty. It's like killing each other to get the throne. Unfortunately, those who suffer are people like us, the powerless and the poor.

I am hoping to get my passport soon. My consultant job in Laos is impatiently waiting for me.

Passport Office in Yangon

The joke I heard from one of my friends. He told of his professor who said,

"The current military government doesn't want the disintegration of the country, so they hold on to power to systematically destroy the integrity of it."

The following quote is also proved to be true for the people of Burma. "The more you tighten your grip, the more slips through your fingers."

Nothing much new lately. Except for political changes in Burma.