Miriam Celaya, Translator: Norma Whiting
Military business interests range from hard-currency stores,
transportation for tourists and restaurants, to hotels in different
parts of the country.
So that no one can say that the bans don't also apply in places better
favored by the dominant caste, a resolution has recently been passed
banning employees of some well-known companies of the Ministry of Armed
Forces from bringing portable computer devices to work. What that will
mean is that employees won't be allowed to bring to work flash drives,
external drives, laptops, notebooks, mobile phones or any other
"potential support for the transfer of information that can pose risks
to the institution or to the country in its development of political,
military, economic, commercial, scientific, technical, cultural, social
and other aspects." How about that?
The rascal that makes an enemy out of any gadget related to computer
technology is resolution 288/2011, and it's a sort of gag order for
employees of the Business Management Group (EAG), directed by Luis
Alberto López Callejas, son-in-law of the General-President, and
includes a number of companies operating in foreign currencies,
including Gaviota. ALMEST (I don't know the meaning of this acronym),
TRD Caribe, Transgaviota, and others.
This resolution was reported to the employees in the early days of
November, and although the order is apparently being obeyed, many
unofficially admit that they carry their flash memories and cellular
phones, contravening the order. "My cell phone line was way too
expensive for me not to use it now. I have a young kid at home and I
have to be on the alert in case he gets sick or needs something," a
friend who works in one of those centers tells me.
The employees of these private military businesses are civilians, but
they are subject to resolutions and circulars and are expected to
observe the rules in a military fashion. In any case, the measure
reflects the official terror of the possibilities of new technologies.
In the face of such behavior, the referenced companies seem more like
intelligence centers or offices where exchange of information takes
place dealing with national security… or rather, the insecurity of the
government.
Translated by: Norma Whiting
November 18 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment