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● 12.28.11

●● Cablegate: US Government Implies Proprietary Software Leaves Digital Footprint

Posted in Cablegate, Free/Libre Software at 6:48 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: Cable from Burma shows American diplomats who “would also like to assist in distributing USB sticks Internews has developed, which allow the activists to utilize open source software”

According to the following Cablegate cable, activists and antagonists (even subversives) are seen as beneficial to US embassies if they support the tenets of democracy (usually something subservient to the West), so the government supports foreign activists in Burma and says: “We would also like to assist in distributing USB sticks Internews has developed, which allow the activists to utilize open source software to launch programs, and enables them to use web browsers without leaving a digital footprint.”

They also say: “We will need considerably more assistance from Washington to facilitate communications by the activists with the outside world.”

Previously in Techrights we covered back doors and spy ‘features’ that exist in proprietary software such as Microsoft’s. Here we may have more incidental concordance courtesy of Cablegate:

=> ↺ Cablegate

VZCZCXRO8235

OO RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH RUEHTRO

DE RUEHGO #0181/01 0670922

ZNY SSSSS ZZH

O 070922Z MAR 08

FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7276

INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE

RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE

RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE

RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0976

RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 4529

RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8067

RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5628

RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1444

RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI

RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1392

RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000181

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/MLS, DRL, AND IO

PACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2018

TAGS: PGOV [Internal Governmental Affairs],QL, PHUM [Human Rights], BM [Burma]

SUBJECT: BURMA: SUPPORTING STRATEGIES FOR THE REFERENDUM

REF: A. RANGOON 153

 B. RANGOON 145 

 C. RANGOON 134 

 D. CARL-YODER-COPE 10/15/2007 E-MAIL 

RANGOON 00000181 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: P/E Chief Leslie Hayden for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)

¶1. (S/NF) Burma's pro-democracy opposition continues to

struggle to organize a coordinated effort to respond to the

upcoming constitutional referendum. We expect the regime

will continue its severe restrictions on free speech and

association, making it impossible for the opposition to carry

out a widespread, public campaign. Activists inside Burma

plan to carry out a "vote no" educational campaign via

word-of-mouth, and using posters, stickers, and T-shirts.

What would most help them succeed is funding for travel and

equipment such as memory sticks, MP3 players, and cell

phones. We are confidant we could discreetly distribute

these items. $200,000 in additional funding to this Embassy

would enable us to quickly assist the activists. End summary.

Reality Check

¶1. (C) Burma's fractured pro-democracy opposition continues

to grapple with how to address the regime's upcoming

constitutional referendum (Refs B and C). The only group

that has outlined a concrete plan to us (and this includes

U.S.- funded exile groups on the Thai-Burma border) is 88

Generation Students. NLD spokesman Nyan Win told us today

that the NLD still had not finalized a concrete plan for

their "vote no" campaign. He anticipated they would have it

ready by next week. Ethnic pro-democracy leaders inside

Burma told us last week that they had no concrete plan to

oppose the referendum either, even though most oppose the

referendum.

¶2. (C) In the lead-up to the referendum, we do not

anticipate the regime will loosen the tighter restrictions

imposed since the September protests. We expect a massive

military and police presence as the date of the referendum

approaches to prevent any protests or civil unrest.

Activists are likely to be closely watched during this time.

Likewise, anyone attempting to approach polling stations to

conduct an exit poll not sanctioned by the regime is certain

to be arrested.

¶3. (C) Regardless of these restrictions, 88 Generation

activists who are not in prison, and remain in Burma, are

determined to go forward with their "vote no" campaign. The

campaign will rely mostly on education via word-of-mouth.

They plan on using sympathetic monks to educate their

constituencies on why the constitution, in its present form,

is not a step forward for democracy in Burma. Additionally,

they will dispatch members of their organization throughout

Burma to distribute educational materials by hand.

What They Need

¶4. (S/NF) 88 Generation has requested approximately $4,300

for "vote no" posters, $2,600 for stickers, and $2,000 for

its members to travel throughout Burma to coordinate with

their members in other states and divisions. We can use the

Embassy print shop and copiers to assist them in making

flyers and pamphlets for their campaigns.

¶5. (S/NF) In addition, the opposition needs memory sticks

and MP3 players, which they intend to load with educational

material and distribute throughout the country. The players

and memory sticks can be hidden and hand delivered from town

to town by the activists during their travels.

¶6. (S/NF) Cell phones in Burma are prohibitively expensive,

costing approximately $2,300 each. Since many of their cell

phones were confiscated after the September protests,

RANGOON 00000181 002.2 OF 002

activists urgently need cell phones to facilitate

communication and coordination. Their traditional suppliers

from Thailand have not been able to get them the equipment.

Since cameras are very dangerous to carry, the opposition

would like to procure cell phones with cameras so they can

discreetly take pictures of their campaigns and document

abuses by the regime during the referendum process.

¶7. (S/NF) Since September, internet communication has been

monitored much more closely by the regime, and Special Branch

Police confiscated many of the activists' computers. Post

again recommends support for the wireless internet connection

we proposed last October (Ref D), to assist the activists in

communicating with pro-democracy groups inside and outside

Burma to organize a coordinated response to the referendum.

¶8. (S/NF) We would also like to assist in distributing USB

sticks Internews has developed, which allow the activists to

utilize open source software to launch programs, and enables

them to use web browsers without leaving a digital footprint.

These would be invaluable tools for aiding their

communication with each other.

¶9. (S/NF) Comment: The faster we can move this equipment

and money to the activists the better. The regime plans on

holding its referendum in May, and their "vote yes" campaign

is already in full force. A large, sophisticated, public

campaign will not happen in Burma: the regime shows every

intent of halting any sign of public opposition. The Embassy

has gained experience in distributing small amounts of funds

without attracting additional regime scrutiny of the Embassy

or our recipients. The activists need funds now to prepare

for a vote that could take place as early as two months from

now. We estimate that $200,000 would enable us to assist the

activists with their equipment needs. We will need

considerably more assistance from Washington to facilitate

communications by the activists with the outside world. End

comment.

VILLAROSA

Without ascending (or descending) to politics, the important point here is that Free software helps people’s freedom. █

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