…exactly why the Myanmar authorities are so sensitive about the importation of radio-controlled toys and gadgets?
I have always assumed that the fear was (or remains) that remote-controlled planes, cars and helicopters, and the like, can be used for surveillance or other nefarious purposes. A 2007 article reports that the government feared they could be (or were being?) used to detonate bombs.
What I am wondering, however, is whether there are any instances on the public record where such toys were used for these purposes? And I appreciate it’s just a relatively minor thing but does anybody know if such restrictions are likely to be rescinded any time soon?
I’m not sure, but even the TSA is worried about them.
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Maybe they were anticipating technology like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4&feature=youtube_gdata_player ??
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I had a security guard grab my camera and threaten to smash it up yesterday for taking a picture of some nuns in a supermarket. The impression I get is that paranoia and suspicion linger on, and that stuff like the above is emblematic of that. As is more often than not the case in this country, it doesn’t need to make rational sense to be a rule, and unlearning the mentality brought about by 50 years of repression is going to take some time…
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I don’t believe it’s a specific concern for what one might do with the remote controlled toys themselves, but a clarification of the much broader ban of importation and possession of broadcast and receiving gear overall.
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I think that they’re afraid of radio frequency interference with military/police/ems communications systems. And its not just Myanmar: most countries’ FCC equivalent limits use of unauthorized RF gadgets. But Myanmar doesn’t have a strong FCC , so is easier to just ban all of them.
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