They may have. But "low-tech" would be useful if for some reason (war, EMP, etc.) the GPS's weren't working ( you must realize that not everyone has GPS's). Also makes it easier to explain to FOREIGN/U.N. troops - Red/Bad, Blue/Good, Pink/Round 'em Up, etc.

Although I do think that most likely it IS for the newspaper carriers. At the same time, I wouldn't put it past this government to "piggyback" on some innocuous symbol or marking. Just my own humble opinion.