Shops selling satellite dish antennas in Rangoon are being raided and searched by local authorities in Burma. SEAPA Alerts partner Mizzima.com reports that satellite dishes last week were confiscated from some shops and harassed shop owners "are being made to sign a pledge not to sell the equipment to unlicensed customers."

Under one of the most restrictive environments for the press and access to information, all communication and media devices require licenses in Burma. Everything from cell phones, fax machines, and modems must be registered in the military-led country. All broadcast media are state-owned, and all printed material must go through a strict and tedious censorship system.

Satellite television - including the access they provide to foreign news services - is expensive, but nonetheless widespread, creating a crucial platform for independent, non-state news and information in Burma. Mizzima says official government statistics estimate that there are about 60,000 licensed satellite dish subscribers in this country of 55 million. A black market for the services, however, may place the actual figures at a higher level.

In recent months, the Burmese junta has been shortening its leash on the satellite services.

Following protests and a violent government crackdown in September 2007, Burmese officials compelled sellers to dramatically raise the prices on satellite dishes and subscriptions, putting them further out of reach of common Burmese. Mizzima says the higher prices were enough to put some sellers out of business.

And still, last week Mizzima.com says they received reports of outright harassment of vendors of such services.

"They are searching the shops now but our shop has stopped selling the dishes," Mizzima quoted one store owner.

"Meanwhile satellite dish dealers Ko Chit Win Kyaing from 'Grand Electronic' and another dealer from 'Green Leaf' were arrested recently without any reason being given," Mizzima, a leading online news provider for exiled Burmese, added.