Hacking targets journalists covering China: Google
Play
Google has sent out warnings that state-sponsored hackers are trying to break into the g-mail accounts of Myanmar journalists covering news about China, including the Kyaukphyu- Kunming Oil Pipeline.
The Google alert comes with a warning sentence in light pink that appears on top of the “inbox” page of the recipient. The message reads: “Warning: We believe state-sponsored hackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer.”
Some editors and reporters from Eleven Media Group (EMG) and some from Irrawaddy News got this warning from Google as they are covering the Kyautphyu-Kunming Oil Pipelines and other issues related to China.
Editors and reporters from EMG have encountered this kind of alert twice before: first in 2012 and the second early last year. As well as EMG journalists, those who received the 2013 alert included Aye Aye Win from AP, Myat Thura from Kyodo News, Saw Yan Naing from Irrawaddy News, and Bertil Lintner, a Swedish journalist and expert on Myanmar issues.
The June 2012 alert went to American journalists, experts on foreign policy and political activists. As for Myanmar journalists, they began getting it in late 2012 and early 2013.
Yatanarpon Teleport and Myanmar Posts and Telecommuni-cations operate and control Myanmar’s internet service.
‘Alcohol consumption rising
Alcohol consumption is rising in Myanmar, with local production of beer, wine and spirits at more than 25 million gallons annually, according to the local reports.
Tens of thousands of gallons of wine, beer, and hard alcohol – both legal and illegal – are being imported and now penetrating local market.
There are state-owned beer and wine factories in Myanmar, but the Myanmar Investment Commission has also allowed permits for foreign beer companies to operate here, subject to scrutiny by respective state and regional government authorities.
According to the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, alcohol and beer manufacturing in local was 24.8 million gallons in 2011-2012 fiscal year. During the current fiscal year (2013-2014), 25.2 million gallons of alcohol and beer produced within nine month up to the end of December.
A research paper submitted at a medical research conference in Myanmar last year found that alcohol consumption among males was 31 per cent but female alcohol consumption was only 1.5 per cent, among the 7,000 people surveyed in Yangon.
Taxation of alcohol, beer and wine is 50 per cent, whether it is imported or domestic.
Rally against corrupt judges
Local activists staged a protest on Monday in front of Yangon Regional Court against the corruption of judges in Myanmar’s legal system.
A local activist organisation, the Nonstop Campaign Force for Democratic Affairs, says it organised the protest with the aim of exposing the corruption of some judges in Yangon Region.
“Regional judges manipulate township judges. The corruption of such regional judges can have a negative effect on the legal system of this country.
“If the legal system is fraudulent, it will spoil the government. Judges who do not work honestly should be dismissed and replaced with honest ones. Corrupt judges should be jailed,” said Htin Kyaw from the organisation.
About 30 participants took part in the protest, which began at 10am on Monday, chanting slogans such as “Out! Out! Corrupt judges!”
They also read a declaration against the electricity fee hikes at the protest.
“The electricity fee hike is a public concern. The electricity minister said they’re doing it ‘to compensate for losses.’ We would like to ask them whether they cannot stand to eat those losses for the sake of the people.
“We strongly support the 18 MPs who opposed the hike [in parliament],” said Tun Tun Naing of the Coordination Team for Worker Unions.
On January 27, a citizen named Htin Kyaw held a solo protest against corrupt legal servants in front of Yangon East District Court, with official permission.
