Burma (Myanmar) launches a search engine contest. Pandia suspects it is a ploy designed to develop censorship technology.

“There is only one possible conclusion in our mind: a total boycott of this competition.”

Yangon, The Myanmar Computer Professional Association (MCPA) has invited individuals and groups to compete for the MCPA Challenge Winner 2009 under the title of the Myanmar Search Engine Contest, sources with the MCPA said on Tuesday.

The research-based contest is held with the aim of encouraging the development of the country’s information and communication technology (ICT), expanding the use of the yanmar language in ICT sector and enhancing the youth’s interest in the creation and ICT research.

The contestants are given six months’ time to prepare for the research and the best contributor will be awarded 3,000 U.S. dollars in cash, sources said.

Registration for contest will close on August 30 and contestants are set to apply initial project application on Sept. 15, it said, adding that the final selection will be launched in May 2010 and the winner will be revealed in June.

MCPA has also invited computer software and hardware programmers to compete for the MCPA Excellence Award 2008 which will take place in September of this year.

Myanmar education authorities have stressed the importance of computer literacy for the younger generation to keep up with the rapid changes in the ICT sector. Myanmar introduced an e-education system in early 2001.

In December 2007, the country’s largest ICT park, also known as the Yadanabon Cyber City was established in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Moreover, Myanmar has also planned full coverage of public access centers (PAC) in every township in the country to facilitate communication links.

Source: TMCnet.com