The Burmese military junta, which is notorious for it's stranglehold on the flow of information, has taken a fresh step in tightening its grip by hiking Satellite Television license fees to a mind boggling 166 times.

While the hike in the annual license fee has not been officially announced, owners of Satellite Dish said they are being charged 10 million Kyat (US $ 800) compared to the normal rate of 6000 Kyat (US $ 4.8).

Following the sudden hike, several Burmese Satellite Dish owners said, they have no choice but to disconnect their television, which critics said is the junta's main objective in jacking up the license fee.

A resident of North Okklapa township in Rangoon , who owns a dish, said, "How can we pay a fee of 10 million Kyat, when we are struggling to earn about a thousand to two thousand a day? I don't think anybody can afford to pay. I have to disconnect."

U Khin Maung Thet, deputy director of department of Communication in Burma's new jungle capital, Nay Lyi Taw, however, said, "It is not that we are hiking the fees yet. But since I have no official direction, I am not in a position to tell anything."

But critics believe that the Burmese junta, which resorts to violence to crackdown on protesters in September, might be wanting to impose curbs on Satellite TV, which broadcast its brutal crackdown on monk-led protests aired by the international media.

Son Moe Wai, Secretary of Burma Media Association, said, the junta might have been scared of the power that the Satellite TV broadcast revealed during the recent protests. Therefore it is hiking the fees.

"They [the junta] may be sacred that the same thing would be repeated. Though they have hiked the fees of Satellite TV, it is impossible to place curbs on technology. But this shows that the junta is trying every means at its disposal to close the eyes and ears of the people," Son Moe Wai added.

Similarly, authorities have blocked the WebPages of international news agencies including Reuters and the Bangkok Post.

"Whenever we open these sites, 'Block by MPT' message is displayed on the screen. It has been about two months now," a foreign correspondent based in Rangoon said.

Earlier, the Burmese authorities informed tours and travel agents, which use internet for their online ticketing and marketing, to be careful in its internet usage and warned that severe punishment would befall them if they are found using it for anti-government purposes.

"It might be difficult for those viewing Satellite TV, but the junta cannot completely shut-off information flow as people, who are thirsty for information would find ways to receive news and information," Son Moe Wai said.