6/9/22, 10:18 AM Connected by extension - How paying connects old regimes and new isolations - Allegra Lab A meme of former General Than Shwe. The caption reads “I told you about twenty years ago that we have to recognise all those relying on foreign countries as a common potential enemy and crush them.” Grasping what it takes to pay On 13 March, during the uncertain times described above, the director-general of the Ministry of the Office of the State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi’s main ministry as the de-facto leader of Myanmar, gave a press conference (Kyaw Hpone Hma 2020; MNA 2020). The government was preparing for COVID-19 and those spreading ‘fake news’ would be prosecuted, the director-general was quoted. (https://allegralaboratory.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Screenshot-2020-11-08-at15.06.12.jpg) Kyaw Hpone Hma (2020) and English translation from MNA (2020) The director-general’s remarks on payment techniques, reported in the government newspapers above, particularly struck me as they contradicted EuroAmerican articulations. The UK(https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-cash-contactless-cardcredit-debit-amazon-prime-venmo-a9472246.html), https://allegralaboratory.net/corona-connected-by-extension-how-paying-connects-old-regimes-and-new-isolations/ 5/12