Burma
(Myanmar) - Consular Information Sheet
November 28, 2000
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Burma (Myanmar)
is a developing, agrarian country ruled by a military regime.
The country's political situation is relatively volatile because
the military government suppresses expression of opposition
to its rule. The capital is Rangoon.
The country has begun to encourage
tourism after a long period of isolation. Foreigners can expect
to pay at least five times more than locals do for hotels,
airfare, and entry to tourist sites. Tourist facilities in
Rangoon, Bagan, Taunggyi, and Mandalay are adequate, but they
are very limited in most other areas of the country.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Travel to,
from and within Burma is strictly controlled by the Government
of Burma. A passport and visa are required. Travelers are
required to show their passports with valid visa at airports,
train stations and hotels. There are frequent security roadblocks
on all roads and immigration checkpoints in Burma, even on
domestic air flights.
Upon entry into Burma, tourists are
required to exchange a minimum of $200 (U.S.) for Foreign
Exchange Certificates (FEC). The FEC office is located between
Immigration and Customs. The face value of the FEC, issued
in denominations from one to 20 dollar equivalents, is equal
to the U.S. dollar, but its actual value fluctuates. Any amount
over $200 (U.S.) may be exchanged back to U.S. dollars. The
first $200 (U.S.) cannot be exchanged back into U.S. dollars.
These procedures are subject to change without notice.
The military government rarely issues
visas to journalists, and several journalists traveling to
Burma on tourist visas have been denied entry. Journalists,
and tourists mistaken for journalists, have been harassed.
Some journalists have had film and notes confiscated upon
leaving the country.
Information about entry requirements
as well as other information may be obtained from the Embassy
of the Union of Myanmar, 2300 S Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20008, telephone 202-332-9044/6, or the Permanent Mission
of Myanmar to the U.N. 10 East 77th St., New York, N.Y. 10021,
telephone 212-535-1311. Overseas inquiries may be made at
the nearest embassy or consulate of Burma (Myanmar).
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Foreigners,
including U.S. citizens, have been caught up in the Burmese
Government suppression of the democratic opposition. U.S.
citizens have been detained, arrested, tried and deported
for, among other activities, distributing pro-democracy literature,
photographing sites and activities, and visiting the homes
and offices of Burmese pro-democracy leaders. Burmese authorities
have warned U.S. Embassy officials that future offenders of
these vague, unspecified restrictions will be jailed in lieu
of deportation.
U.S. Embassy officials are not allowed
to travel outside Rangoon without the permission of the Burmese
Government. Therefore, it may be difficult to assist U.S.
citizens quickly should an emergency arise.
The Burmese authorities have announced
that terrorist groups operate within the city limits of Rangoon.
A small incendiary device exploded at a downtown pagoda in
1996 and other bomb devices were reportedly found by Burmese
authorities in 1999 and 2000.
Burma experienced major political unrest
in 1988 when an undetermined number of Burmese democracy activists
were jailed or killed by the government. The military government
refused to recognize election results in 1990, which the opposition
won overwhelmingly. Burma experienced major student demonstrations
in 1996, and demonstrations occurred in August and September
of 1998. Popular unrest and violence continue to be possible.
U.S. citizens traveling in Burma should exercise caution and
check with the U.S. Embassy for an update on the current situation.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry their U.S. passports
or photocopies of passport data and photo pages at all times
so that, if questioned by Burmese officials, proof of U.S.
citizenship is readily available.
In 1995, there was one reported guerrilla
attack by Karen insurgents in the vicinity of the Yadana natural
gas pipeline, Tenasserim Division. There are reports that
future attacks on the pipeline may be contemplated.
In December 1996, two bomb explosions
occurred at the Kaba Aye Pagoda in Rangoon. There have also
been bomb attacks against family members of senior military
officials, and against trains. The Thai-Burma border area
in Southern Shan, Mon, Karen, Karenni, Chin and Rakhine states
have been the scene of occasional fighting between government
forces and various insurgent groups.
TRAVEL OF FOREIGNERS WITHIN BURMA:
Burmese authorities require that hotels and guesthouses furnish
information about the identities and activities of their foreign
guests. Burmese who interact with foreigners may be compelled
to report on those interactions to the Burmese Government.
Unrestricted travel exists to the main
tourist areas of Pagan, Inle Lake and the Mandalay area. The
military government restricts access to some areas of the
country on an ad hoc basis. Those planning to travel in Burma
should check with Burmese tourism authorities to see if travel
is permitted. However, some tourists traveling to places where
permission is not expressly required have reported delays
due to questioning by local security personnel. Reportedly,
10 of the 14 Burmese states and divisions are polluted with
anti-personnel land mines.
CRIME INFORMATION: Street crime
is becoming more common in Burma. There have been reports
of vehicle hijackings and home invasion robberies. With the
increase of the drug trade in Burma, individuals carrying
automatic weapons on the street are not uncommon.
The loss or theft abroad of a U.S.
passport should be reported immediately to local police and
the U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department
of State's pamphlet, A
Safe Trip Abroad, to promote a more trouble-free journey.
The pamphlet is available by mail from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, D.C. 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs;
via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at
http://travel.state.gov; or at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical
facilities in Burma are inadequate for even routine medical
care. There are few trained medical personnel because the
universities were closed for several years and have recently
reopened. Common drugs for sale, such as insulin, are often
adulterated products and unsafe to use. HIV/AIDS is rampant
in the country, as is malaria and hepatitis. Hospital and
medical services are available in Rangoon; elsewhere, medical
care is limited.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical
insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S.
Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for
medical services outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals
often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Travelers
are strongly encouraged to purchase international medical
evacuation insurance before traveling to Burma. Serious medical
problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation
to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more.
Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may
face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance
company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including
provision for medical evacuation. Serious medical problems
requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the
United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please
ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital
or doctor, or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses
that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage
for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in
the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies
abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided
in the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure,
Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad, available
via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov
and autofax service at 202-647-3000.
OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information
on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained
from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention's (CDC) hotline for international
travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX
(1-888-232-3299), or via CDC Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road
conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Burma is provided
for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate
in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor
The Burmese Ministry of Transportation
is responsible for roads outside the major cities. City authorities
are responsible for roads in the major metropolitan areas.
Rangoon main roads are generally good.
Traffic in the capital is increasing rapidly, but serious
congestion is still rare. Slow-moving vehicles, bicycles,
and heavy pedestrian traffic create numerous hazards for drivers
on Rangoon streets. Most roads outside Rangoon are one lane
and a half, pot-holed, and unlighted at night.
Driving at night is dangerous. Burmese
drivers do not turn on their headlights until the sky is dark,
thereby adding another danger to driving at twilight.
Vehicles are required to drive on the
right side of the road, as in the United States. However,
over 80 percent of the vehicles in use have the steering wheel
on the right, as in Great Britain, adding a complication to
the dangerous driving situation in Burma. The speed limit
in the area of schools is posted at 48 kph, or about 30 mph.
There are no other speed limits posted in Burma. The right
of way is generally respected with the exception that military
convoys and motorcades take precedence. Right turns on a red
light are permitted.
Most vehicle accidents are generally
settled between the parties with the party at fault paying
the damages. Accidents that require an investigation are concluded
quickly and rarely result in criminal prosecution.
There is no roadside assistance, and
ambulances are not available in most parts of the country.
Truck drivers traversing from China
to Rangoon are known to be frequently under the influence
of methamphetamine-spiked beetlenuts. Drunken and/or drugged
drivers are common on the roads during the four-day water
festival of early spring.
There are no seat belt laws, and functioning
seat belts generally are not found in vehicles. Child care
seats are also not required and not available in Burma.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As
there is no direct commercial air service by local carriers
at present, nor economic authority to operate such service
between the United States and Burma, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has not assessed Burma Civil Aviation
Authority for compliance with international aviation safety
standards for oversight of Burma air carrier operations.
For further information, travelers
may contact the U.S. Department of Transportation within the
United States at telephone 1-800-322-7873 or visit the FAA Internet home page at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa/.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some
foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers
of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy
on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at telephone
(618) 229-4801.
Due to general safety concerns regarding
Myanmar Airways, including two fatal air crashes in 1998,
the U.S. Embassy has advised its employees to avoid travel
on this carrier whenever possible.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Customs
regulations are restrictive and strictly enforced. It is illegal
to take many items, including antiques, out of Burma. Foreigners
have been detained, searched and imprisoned for attempting
to take Burmese gems out of the country.
The military government restricts access
to outside information. Newspapers are censored for articles
unfavorable to the military government, and Internet access
is illegal. Travelers have reported that their luggage is
closely searched upon arrival and departure by immigration
authorities.
Computers, internet, and e-mail:
As of September 2000, Internet connections are illegal except
to the government and a few businesses. It is illegal to own
an unregistered modem in Burma, and tourists have had their
laptop computers taken and held at the airport until their
departure. E-mail is available at some large hotels. All e-mails
are read by military intelligence. It is very expensive to
send photographs via e-mail. One foreign visitor was presented
a bill for $2,000 (U.S.) after transmitting one photograph
via a major hotel e-mail system.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in
a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's
laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly
from those in the United States and may not afford the protections
available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for
breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States
for similar offenses. Persons violating the law, even unknowingly,
may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession,
use or trafficking in illegal drugs in Burma are strict, and
convicted offenders can expect stiff jail terms, fines and
even the death penalty.
Some foreigners have been denied even
minimal rights in criminal proceedings in Burma, especially
if suspected of engaging in political activity of any type.
This includes, but is not limited to, denial of access to
an attorney, court records, and family and consular visits.
The criminal justice system is under the control of the military
junta, which orders maximum sentences for all offenses. Torture
has been reported in Burmese jails, and, in 2000, a foreigner
was tortured so that he would surrender his personal possessions
to his jailers.
CONSULAR ACCESS: U.S. consular
officers do not always receive timely notification of the
detention, arrest, or deportation of U.S. citizens. In addition,
the Burmese Government has on occasion refused to give U.S.
Embassy consular officers access to arrested/detained U.S.
citizens. U.S. citizens who are arrested or detained should
request immediate contact with the U.S. Embassy. U.S. citizens
are encouraged to carry their U.S. passports with them at
all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof
of identity and U.S. citizenship is readily available.
CURRENCY: Not all major credit
cards can be used in Burma, and generally only large international
hotels in Rangoon and Mandalay accept them. There are no automatic
cash machines in the country to access currency from overseas,
and it is not possible to cash a personal check drawn on a
foreign bank.
Although moneychangers sometimes approach
travelers to offer to change dollars into Burmese kyat at
the market rate, it is illegal to exchange currency except
at authorized locations such as the airport, banks and government
stores.
Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC)
are required by foreigners for the payment of plane tickets,
train tickets and most hotels. Burmese kyat are accepted for
most other transactions. It is possible to purchase FEC with
some credit cards at the Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank in Rangoon
or any place that exchanges foreign currency.
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS: U.S. Presidential
Executive Order 13047 of May 20, 1997, prohibits new investment
in Burma. For specific information, please visit the
U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) home page on the Internet at http://www.treas.gov/ofac/
or via OFAC Info-by-Fax service at 202-622-0077.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Taking photographs
of people in uniform or any military installation is discouraged
by Burmese authorities, and it could lead to arrest or the
confiscation of cameras and film.
TELEPHONE SERVICES: Telephone
services are poor in Rangoon and other major cities and non-existent
in some other areas.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information on international
adoption of children and international parental child abduction
issues, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html
or telephone (202) 736-7000.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY LOCATION:
U.S. citizens living or in or visiting Burma are encouraged
to register at the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information
on travel and security within the country from the Embassy.
The U.S. Embassy is located at 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon,
tel. (95-1) 282055 and (95-1) 282182; fax (95-1) 256018.
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