A Tool Of Revolution

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The strategic brilliance of Facebook lies in the fact that it is a combination of the cyberworld and the real world. When Facebook revolutions work, it's not because activists manage to bridge the social network and the real world. Facebook is not a cyberworld; it is the real world expanded on the Web. "Facebook is there to help people share information the same way they do in the real world," says Zuckerberg. "On Facebook, these real connections become more efficient and people get more value out of all their relationships." Although the groups themselves are composed of real people, the connection happens in cyberspace—with lightning speed and no regard to physical boundaries.

If the basic unit of the Internet is the byte, or character, then Facebook's unit is the individual—creative, dynamic, proactive. This unit itself is something of eminent value, upon which Facebook can trade ad infinitum with every connection made, every blip of activity broadcast across the network.

Facebook may be the messenger, but it's the users who write the message. In fact, they can write entire applications and run them on a platform that is, by design, connected to millions of people, of like and unlike minds.

Clearly the Egyptian authorities recognized the organizational power of Facebook, which is why 27-year-old Ahmed Maher Ibrahim, an organizer of the Facebook group for the failed strike, was taken to a police station for 12 hours and beaten up. At one point, officers demanded that Ibrahim hand over the password to the Facebook group. How much the authorities understood about Facebook, and ultimately whether they'll be able to stem its use as a tool of activists, are hard to say. When Facebook delivers a message that brings Egyptians out into the streets, we may find out.

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Posted By: nyeinc @ 07/16/2008 7:55:36 PM

CHAPTER VIII TERMINATION OF SANCTIONS
20. The sanctions imposed under this Act shall apply until the Committee determines and certifies to the State Peace and Development Council and/or the Government of Union of Myanmar that all sanctions and embargoes against Union of Myanmar and its entities have been removed.
CHAPTER IX MISCELLANEOUS
21. Rule of Construction: Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit any contract or other financial transaction with any entities engaged in the humanitarian and developmental efforts in Union of Myanmar.
22. REGULATORY EXCEPTIONS
For the following purposes, the Minister of Foreign Affairs may, by regulation, authorize exceptions to the prohibition and restrictions described in subsection (a), and the Minister of Home Affairs may, by regulation, authorize exceptions to the executions of penalties under this Act -
(a) to permit the other countries and Myanmar to operate their diplomatic missions, and to permit Union of Myanmar to conduct other official Government business at home and abroad.
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Posted By: nyeinc @ 07/16/2008 7:55:17 PM

FREEZING OF FUNDS AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES
18. All funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by persons listed in Chapter V shall be frozen;
(a) No payment or transfer may be made from a frozen account, including to another frozen account, without prior authorization. This includes the deduction of fees or service charges for routine holding or maintenance of frozen accounts. Loans and other forms of credit should not be made available to those listed in Chapter V.

(b) Under the Act, interest or other earnings on frozen accounts or payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose prior to the date on which those accounts became subject to financial sanctions may be added to frozen accounts provided that any such interest, other earnings or payments continue to be frozen.

19. The prohibition against making funds or economic resources available does not prevent the crediting of frozen accounts by financial or credit institutions that receive funds transferred by third parties to the frozen account of the listed person provided that any additions to such accounts are also frozen. Financial institutions are required to inform the Committee of any such transactions without delay.
(d) Interest, other payments and credits

20. The Committee is able to authorize the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources or the making available of certain frozen funds or economic resources, if they have determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are:

a) necessary to cover the basic expenses of those listed in subsection (a) (1) and their dependent family members, including payments for foodstuffs, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges;

b) intended exclusively for payment of reasonable professional fees and reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services;

c) intended exclusively for payment of fees or service charges for routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources;

d) necessary for extraordinary expenses.
Chapter VII (PROVISION OF INFORMATION)
19. The responsible persons of the banks, financial institutions and relevant departments shall, notwithstanding anything contained in existing laws in respect of bank secrecy, check and report to the Committee within 120 days of the enactment of this Act and without delay in the future
(a) whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise hold any funds for the individuals and entities listed in Chapter [ ] and,

(b) if so they should report to the Committee details of all funds or economic resources that they have frozen in accordance with this Act.

(c) They must also provide the Committee with all relevant information necessary for ensuring compliance with this Act.
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Posted By: nyeinc @ 07/16/2008 7:55:01 PM

CHAPTER VI (OFFENCES AND PENALTIES)
10. Whoever commits any of the acts prohibited in the Chapter IV of this Act shall, on determination, be punished with any or any combination of the following penalties -
VISA BAN
11. IN GENERAL any foreign PERSONS listed in Chapter [ ] shall be ineligible for a visa to travel to Union of Myanmar.
(a) WAIVER The Government of Union of Myanmar may waive the visa ban described in paragraph (1) only if the Government of Union of Myanmar determines and certifies in writing to the State Peace and Development Council that travel by the person seeking such a waiver is in the national interests of Union of Myanmar.
FINANCIAL SANCTIONS
12. FREEZING PROPERTY No property or interest in property belonging to a person described in Chapter V may be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt with if found in violation of the activities prohibited under this Act.
13. Any property located in Union of Myanmar or within the possession or control of a Myanmar person, including the overseas branch of a Myanmar person shall be frozen; or
14. the property comes into the possession or control of a Myanmar person after the date of the enactment of this Act shall be frozen.
15. No granting of any financial loan or credit to persons listed in Chapter V or enterprises that are owned or controlled by persons listed in Chapter V.
FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
16. Except with respect to transactions authorized explicitly under the existing laws and regulations of Union of Myanmar, no Myanmar person may engage in a financial transaction with a person described in subsection (a) (1).
17. IN GENERAL the prohibitions and restrictions described in subsections above shall not apply to medicine, medical equipment or supplies, food or feed, or any other form of humanitarian and developmental assistance provided to Myanmar.