By JALOON HTAW – The newly elected government in Mon State has allowed members of the All Mon Regions Democracy Party (AMDP) to apply for CDMA phones at Myanma Posts and Telecommunications in Moulmein, capital of Mon State, for increased village communication.
“Buddhist monasteries and our party members who were organizers and active at the 2010 election campaign are able to apply for a phone,” said Nai Aung Naing, a member of the Mon State Parliament in Chaungzon Township.
The price of the CDMA phone is 500,000 kyat (equivalent to around $625 U.S.). The newly elected government’s price is cheaper than the current market price in Burma.
The deadline to apply a phone is at the end of April. They have to pay the lowered price of 150,000 kyat and fill out an application form. According to a source, those who apply will receive the phone the next month.
“They give it to us intending for us to communicate with each other when there is a natural disaster. We cannot give this phone to others. They can take it back,” said Nai Aung Naing.
The amount of phones available depends on the size of the village. According to sources from the AMDP, a large village may have three while a small village will receive only two phones.
AMDP members in Chaungzon Township have applied for 50 CDMA phones. There are 64 villages in Chaungzon Township.
According to U Myo Swe, a manager at Myanma Posts and Telecommunications in Mon State, there are 7,000 CDMA phones in Mon State.
