inprofile supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Myanmar September 2013

A The country

Fast facts

Official name Republic of the Union of Capital Nay Pyi Daw Population 47-60 Mio (census due in 2014)

Currency: Kyat (MMK) Per capita GDP: USD 1,405 (PPP) / USD 854 (nominal) HDI score: Over the past decade a number of million (no census has been conducted for the 0.498 (2012, rank: 149th) developments have had major effects on past 30 years; a new census is planned for Natural hazards: Myanmar and in turn shaped the humanitarian 2014). Myanmar’s society is diverse and consists Cyclones, earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides and development landscape. These include: of some 135 ethnic groups. Despite its natural Infant mortality rate , which devastated large areas resources and strategic location, Myanmar is 46.31/1,000 (2013 estimate) of the Ayeyarwady Delta in 2008 and killed also the poorest country in the region, with Live expectancy at birth 138,000 people; the political reform process around one quarter of its population estimated 65.6 years (2013 estimate) begun in early 2011; ethnic conflicts including to be living in poverty (below USD1.25 per day). For more key data on Myanmar, see UN Data here and that in ; and the inter-communal The government's investment in both education the Asian Development Bank’s violence that flared up in in June and health is one of the lowest in the world. For Myanmar fact sheet here . 2012. With Myanmar being large, resource- much of its contemporary history, Myanmar has rich and strategically located as well as having been ruled by a military regime and was a population that is poor and heavily exposed internationally isolated. to climate change, the former isolation has Since the inauguration of a quasi-civilian given way to an influx of development actors government in March 2011, significant steps and businesses alike. While efforts to reduce have been taken towards political reform, poverty and strengthen resilience are needed, About our inprofile series working in a rapidly changing environment is including the release of hundreds of political As part of our free service to the prisoners, peace agreements with the eleven subscribers of our newsletter, we not without challenges - understanding the major ethnic armed groups, and new laws that publish concise profiles about the country’s background, issues, actors and countries we work in. If you would provide for greater freedom of expression and practical aspects is vital. like to subscribe, go to assembly, labour rights and political www.banyaneer.com/sign-up. participation. All country profiles are updated Bordering China, India, , Bangladesh annually. While all efforts are made to ensure that information provided and Laos, Myanmar is the largest country in In April 2012, Myanmar conducted is correct at the time of publishing, mainland South-East Asia. Estimates of parliamentary by-elections in which Aung San Banyaneer assumes no liability for Myanmar’s population range from 47 to 60 Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for the use of this information.

www.banyaneer.com in profile | myanmar 1

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Map | Myanmar The 2012 riots in Rakhine State that saw more Political profile than 176,000 people affected and more than Executive: President Thein Sein, two Vice- 100 killed, as well as unrest in other areas, Presidents, cabinet served as a reminder that the reform process INDIA CHINA Legislative: Kachin State may not be without hurdles. Two legislative chambers, the 440- seat (People’s As- sembly, the lower house) and the 224-seat (Na- Sagaing The role of external actors tionalities Assembly, the lower Region With international sanctions and the former house). In both houses, 25% of seats are reserved for military appointees. BANG- regime’s reluctance to grant access to many LADESH Shan Main political parties: development and humanitarian actors (which State • Union Solidarity and Development Region LAOS was heavily criticised in the aftermath of Party (USDP, military-aligned) Rakhine Cyclone Nargis), few external actors were able • National League for Democracy State Magway NAYPYIDAW Region (NLD, lead by Aung San Suu Kyi) Kayah to pursue operations prior to 2011. The number State • National Democratic Force (NDF) of businesses, NGOs and other external actors • National Unity Party (NUP) Bago Region has risen tremendously since (as the exploding Economic profile cost of living in , Myanmar’s largest city, Kayin Composition: GDP (labour force) State THAILAND testifies). Ayeyarwady Mon •Agriculture: 38.8% (70%) Region Yangon State •Industry: 19.3% (7%) Region •Services: 41.8% (23%) External actors - both from the profit and non-

GDP growth profit sectors - can contribute to improving the 6.2% (2011-12 estimate) lives and livelihoods of people across Myanmar,

Agricultural products: Thanintaryi both through direct action as well as through Region Rice, pulses, beans, sesame, support and advocacy to the government. With groundnuts, sugarcane; fish and fish products; hardwood Myanmar standing at rank 149 out of 186 countries assessed for the Human Development Industries: Agricultural processing; wood and Index (2012), and the country lagging behind all wood products; copper, tin, 0 250 500 km of its ASEAN neighbours in indicators for tungsten, iron; cement, construction poverty, health and education, much is to be materials; pharmaceuticals; Democracy (NLD) was elected to Parliament. done to advance the lives of its people - fertilizer; oil and natural gas; She acknowledged the role of President Thein garments, jade and gems especially as climate change brings additional Sein in leading Myanmar towards democratic burdens. Ethnic profile reform. In signs of continuing reform, the The government identifies eight Myanmar parliament has agreed to review the national ethnicities which comprise Effective coordination between agencies, 135 "distinct" ethnic groups. These Constitution. The next parliamentary elections adherence to the “Do No Harm” principle, and a are the Bamar (68%), Shan (9%), are due in November 2015. Kayin (7%), Rakhine (4%), Mon (2%), focus of needs-based interventions will be key to Kachin (2%), Kayah (1 %) as well as a successful support role of external actors. many small ethnic groups. Unrecog- As the International Crisis Group (ICG) points nised ethnic groups include Myan- out, Myanmar’s political transition and eco- mar Indians and Myanmar Chinese who form 2% and 3% of the popula- nomic reconstruction are intimately entwined: tion respectively, and the Rohingya. “Achieving either depends on achieving both. [...] It is hard to imagine a successful political tran- Over 80% of the population are Therveda Buddhist, with the sition unless the government can secure macro- remainder being Christian, Muslim, economic stability and sustained improvement Hindu or Animist. to the lives of ordinary people, just as it is hard to imagine successful economic reform without 1. See: Myanmar: The Politics of Economic Reform, ICG Asia political stability and a continued shift away Report No. 231, 27 July 2012. from the authoritarian past.”1

2 myanmar | in profile www.banyaneer.com

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Chart | Myanmar administrative structure MIMU Created in the aftermath of Cyclone Union Territory (Nay Pyi Taw) Nargis, the Myanmar Information and 14* States and Regions Management Unit (MIMU) provides a broad range of information and Districts facilitates coordination. It maintains (70) lists of maps, baseline data, publications, a contact list and urban Townships rural features a library. areas (330) areas Website: Cities or towns Sub-townships http://themimu.info (394) (84) Address: Wards Village tracts No. 5 Kanbazwa Street (3,063) (13,618) (opposite Pearl Condo) Phone: 01-230 5663 * There are 14 States and Regions - however, is sub-divided Villages into three sub-states and Bago Region into two sub-regions. (66,777) Source: Myanmar Information Management Unit, March 2013

B The issues

Myanmar’s reform process offers a major Security Information Network (FSIN) 4 are opportunity to improve the lives of its people mechanisms for coordination and information- through interventions in a range of fields. We sharing amongst stakeholders in this sector. present some of the key issues related to resilience below. Disaster risk management Myanmar ranks first on OCHA’s 2012 list of Agriculture, livelihood and food security most at-risk countries in the Asia Pacific region. Lack of access to credit and inputs have had a The country is vulnerable to floods, cyclones, 2. See UNDP 2011: Integrated negative impact on food security, livelihoods earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis. Between Household Living Conditions Assessment (IHLCA) II; available and the rural economy. According to a UNDP 2002 and 2013, 2.6 million people were affected at: http://www.mm.undp.org/IHLCA/ survey in 2011 2 , 26% of Myanmar’s population by cyclones and 500,000 by floods. OCHA has index.html lives below the poverty line, with the propor- produced a fact sheet that is available here. The 3. For more information on the TGFSA and DLWG, see tions being much higher in some areas, such as combined effects of climate change add to this http://themimu.info/ Agriculture_Livelihoods_Food_Security/ Chin State (73%), Rakhine State (44%), Tanin- risk: a 2011 study ranks Myanmar second out of index.php tharyi Region (33%), Shan State (33%) and 233 countries/territories in terms of the threat 4. See http://www.fsinmyanmar.net/ Ayeyarwaddy Region (32%). The nationwide posed by both agricultural productivity losses 5. See Wheeler, D. (2011): prevalence of moderately underweight children and sea-level rise, and fifth in terms of the threat Quantifying Vulnerability to is 32%. The proportion of total household from weather extremes. 5 The experience from Climate Change: Implications for Adaption Assistance. Washington budgets spent on food is 68%. Access to land is Cyclone Nargis has shown that while community DC: Center for Global Development - http:// a significant issue, with 24% of people being members are excellent at helping each other in international.cgdev.org/sites/default/files/ landless. The Thematic Group on Food Security times of hardship, most communities in remote 1424759_file_Wheeler_Quantifying_Vulne rability_FINAL.pdf and a discussion and Agriculture (TGFSA), the Delta Livelihoods areas lack the support structures (e.g. early war- here: http://www.dvb.no/news/climate- change-threatens-burma/20748 Working Group (DLWG) 3, and the Food ning) needed to anticipate or cope with hazards.

www.banyaneer.com in profile | myanmar 3

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Health and nutrition Conflicts and communal violence Myanmar has high rates of infant, under-five While progress has been made recently towards and maternal mortality, as well as high resolving longstanding ethnic conflicts in prevalence of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and Myanmar, many challenges remain. The malaria. Government expenditure on health is government has reached tentative peace only 0.5% of GDP, and access to health care agreements with all eleven of the main armed facilities is extremely limited outside major ethnic groups, following the signing of a cities and towns. Improving maternal and child preliminary agreement with the Kachin health services (including nutrition and Independence Organisation (KIO) on 30 May immunisation) across Myanmar’s rural areas is 2013 and a preliminary ceasefire with the Karen vital. National Union on 12 January 2012, which ended one of the world's longest-running civil Water and sanitation conflicts. Common practices of open defecation, use of unprotected water sources, and generally poor 2012 saw the outbreak of extreme communal sanitation standards are underlying causes for violence in Rakhine State between Buddhist and the high prevalence of water-borne diseases Muslim groups that resulted in many displaced such as diarrhoea, Hepatitis A and typhoid fever people across that region. One year on, the UN across Myanmar. These are amplified during and estimates that 176,000 remain affected by the after floods. crisis. Furthermore, sporadic religious violence has broken out in different locations across the Education country - in Miektila in March 2013, in Lashio in The government spends only 1.3% of GDP on May 2013, and in in August education. Some 50% of students finish primary 2013. school, a small percentage of these students complete middle and high school, and fewer still Natural resource management In Myanmar, where 70% of the people depend go on to university. Universities across Myan- on natural resources for their livelihood, the mar have faced many restrictions and cuts since sustainable use and protection of these the 1988 student uprising. resources matters not just in their own right, but also for livelihoods, food security and disaster Protection and Human Rights risk reduction. Adapting to increasing saline Myanmar has had a dubious record in the past intrusion along the Ayeyarwady Delta - the in regards to labour issues, including forced country’s rice bowl - and ensuring that economic labour and the recruitment of minors into the development does not come at the cost of military. The Myanmar Parliament passed new natural resources are cases in point. labour laws in September 2011 that aim to bring Myanmar back into line with international norms and ILO standards. In June 2012 the government and the armed forces signed a Joint Action Plan to stop the abuse of children in armed conflict, including the recruitment of child soldiers. By September 2013, the military had discharged a total of 176 child soldiers from service. In July 2013, 73 political prisoners were released, and the government pledged to release all remaining political prisoners by the end of 2013. Woman in Bago Region fetching water. [Photo: S. Marr]

4 myanmar | in profile www.banyaneer.com

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Key international NGOs in Myanmar C The actors • ACTED http://www.acted.org/en/myanmar • Action Against Hunger 6 http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/ Despite challenges and restrictions imposed by respective contributions and priorities. Other countries/asia/myanmar the past regime, many international actors have donors not included in the profile include the • Action Aid http://www.actionaid.org/where-we- worked successfully to support communities Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World work/asia-australia/myanmar • Adventist Development and Relief within Myanmar. Many challenges remain and Bank. Three main multi-donor funds have been Agency (ADRA) will take time to redress. Key operational established for Myanmar: http://www.adramyanmar.org/ • Aide Medicale Internationale (AMI) challenges include the lack of mobility of http://www.amifrance.org/-Myanmar-ex- Multi-Donor Education Fund Phase II Burma-.html expatriate staff, lengthy and fluctuating visa Volume: approx. USD 65 m (2012-2016) • Burnet Institute http://www.burnet.edu.au/countries/ approvals, limited humanitarian space, lack of Supported by: Australia, Denmark, the European Commission, 2_myanmar_burma Norway, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the United Kingdom reliable data, lengthy government procedures • CARE MDEF II builds on its predecessor, the Multi-Donor Education http://www.care.org.au/myanmar-burma and red tape, uncertain registration status and Fund, to address the urgent need for sustainable improve- • CESVI http://www.cesvi.eu/? short term and/or limited funding. ments in access, equity, quality and management in Myanmar’s pagina=pagina_generica.php&id=641 basic education sector. It aims to accelerate progress towards • International Rescue Committee achieving Millennium Development Goal 2, “ensure that, by http://www.rescue.org/overview/irc- Opportunities exist to increase aid effectiveness 2015, children everywhere, girls and boys alike, will be able to myanmar complete a full course of primary schooling.” • Malteser International by accessing longer term funding, cooperating http://www.malteser-international.org/ home/wo-wir-helfen/archiv/asien/ and working to build the capacity of public Three Millennium Development Goals Fund myanmar.html structures in health and education, to improve http://www.3mdg.org • Marie Stopes International http://www.mariestopes.org.au/how-we- basic facilities and services, and to strengthen Volume: approx. USD 300m (2012-2016) help/where-we-work/myanmar Supported by: Australia, Denmark, European Commission, Norway, • Medicins du Monde (MDM) civil society. Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/gb/ International/Burma-Myanmar The Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG) • Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Nearly all international NGOs operate in supports the provision of health services in Myanmar and will http://www.msf.org/myanmar contribute towards the country’s efforts to achieve the three • Merlin Myanmar under some sort of framework health-related Millennium Development Goals. These goals http://www.merlin.org.uk/category/ myanmar agreement with the government, commonly a include reducing child mortality, improving maternal health • Mercy Corps Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and a and combating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria. 3MDG places a http://www.mercycorps.org/myanmar special emphasis upon provision of maternal, newborn and • Norwegian Refugee Council Letter of Agreement with the ministry that has child quality health services. http://www.nrc.no/?aid=9355836 purview over the sector in which they work. • Oxfam Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) http://www.oxfam.org/en/myanmar MOUs are granted for a specified time, usually • PACT http://lift-fund.org http://www.pactworld.org/myanmar one to three years. It is not uncommon for Volume: approx. USD 170 m (2009-2016) • Plan International INGOs to operate under an expired or pending Supported by: Australia, Denmark, the European Union, France, the http://plan-international.org/where-we- Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, the United work/asia/myanmar/ MOU for periods of time. INGOs operating in Kingdom, and the United States of America • PSI http://www.psi.org/myanmar Myanmar work largely with the Ministry of LIFT was established in 2009 to be an effective mechanism for • Relief International Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, or the channeling aid through partners, to achieve its goal of impro- http://www.ri.org/where_we_work/ ved food and livelihood security of poor and vulnerable people country.php?ID=10 Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and in Myanmar. It focuses on the Ayeyarwady Delta, the central • Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c. Resettlement. dry zone as well as Chan, Chin, Kachin and Rakhine States, and 8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6150543/ aims to reach at least 2 m people. Currently, 43 LIFT projects • Solidarites International are being implemented. http://www.solidarites.org/fr/nos- Official development assistance missions/myanmar • Terre des hommes Official development assistance (ODA) to Myanmar government http://www.tdh.ch/en/countries/myanmar • Welthungerhilfe Myanmar has been low until the beginning of The Government of Myanmar, headed by the http://www.welthungerhilfe.de/home- en.html the political reform process (around USD 7 per President, includes 31 Ministries. Key depart- • World Vision capita in 2009). Since 2011, ODA has increased ments for humanitarian and development work http://www.wvi.org/myanmar substantially, and donors to Myanmar have are the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation 6. The paper “Myanmar donor established an informal coordination group, the (Minister: U Myint Hlaing), the Ministry of profiles” can be accessed here: Partnership Group for Aid Effectiveness Health (Minister: Pe Thet Khin), and the Ministry http://www.mof.go.jp/about_mof/councils/ customs_foreign_exchange/sub- (PGAE). A paper from March 2012 provides a of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement foreign_exchange/proceedings/material/ gai240625/03.pdf profile of bilateral donors and shows their (Minister: Myat Myat Ohn Khin).

www.banyaneer.com in profile | myanmar 5

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Local partners Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement Key government departments Despite decades of tight control of civil society The Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) was • Department of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement groups, Myanmar has a wide array of national established in 1939 and is the country’s largest http://www.dsw.gov.mm/en and local non-government organizations. The humanitarian organization. As a member of the • Ministry of Health http://www.moh.gov.mm/ Local Resource Centre (LRC) provides profiles Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it is • Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation of 125 local NGOs.7 Some of the key local actors supported by the International Committee of • Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries • Ministry of Labour are: the Red Cross (ICRC), the International http://www.mol.gov.mm/en/ • Metta Development Foundation Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent • Ministry of Communication http://www.metta-myanmar.org/ and Information Technology Societies (IFRC). Six National Societies (from • Myanmar Red Cross Society http://www.mcit.gov.mm/ http://myanmarredcrosssociety.org Australia, Denmark, France, Qatar, Turkey and • Ministry of Industry • Ministry of Foreign Affairs • Radanar Ayar Association Canada) currently have a local presence in http://www.mofa.gov.mm/ http://www.radanarayar.org Myanmar.

UN agencies

• UNOCHA http://www.unocha.org/roap/about-us/ about-ocha-roap/myanmar • UNDP http://www.mm.undp.org/ • UNOPS http://www.unops.org/english/whatwedo/ D Working in Myanmar Locations/Europe/Myanmar-Operations- Centre/Pages/ MyanmarOperationsCentre.aspx • UNICEF Visa documentation. To apply for a business visa on http://www.unicef.org/myanmar/ When travelling to Myanmar it is imperative to arrival, your organization in Myanmar must • WFP check current visa requirements with local arrange this with the relevant Ministry responsi- http://www.wfp.org/countries/myanmar • WHO consulates and Embassies well before entering ble for the company/organisation along with http://www.who.int/countries/mmr/en/ the country. Since 2012, business visas on coordinating with airport authorities before • UNODC http://www.unodc.org/ arrival have been available for some organi- your arrival. This takes time, so plan ahead. southeastasiaandpacific/myanmar/ index.html zations/companies. All other business and tou- Tourist visas (valid for 28 days) are often • UNHCR rist visas must be obtained prior to entry into obtained in nearby Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. It http://www.unhcr.org/pages/ 49e4877d6.html Myanmar. Many visitors have been turned away is possible to overstay and pay a fee on • UNFPA at immigration without proper visas and departure, but this is not recommended. For http://myanmar.unfpa.org/ • UNAIDS http://www.unaids.org/en/ regionscountries/countries/myanmar/ • ILO http://www.ilo.org/yangon/country/lang-- en/index.htm • FAO http://www.fao.org/countryprofiles/index/ en/?iso3=MMR

7. Available at: http://lrcmyanmar.org/ en/ngoprofiles/Local%20NGO Community workshop in Shan State, with women’s and men’s group comparing exercise results. [Photo: S. Marr]

6 myanmar | in profile www.banyaneer.com

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

longer term work, long stay permits are Registration Public holidays required; approval can take considerable time, Based on Law 6/88, all NGOs operating in 04.01. Independence Day depending on your organization and your travel Myanmar need to register with the Ministry of 12.02. Union Day 02.03. Peasant’s Day record to Myanmar. Home Affairs and sign a basic cooperation 27.03. Armed Forces’ Day agreement. The government has issued 13.-16.04. Thingyan Festival ‘Guidelines for UN agencies, International 17.04. Myanmar New Year Travel permits 01.05. Workers’ Day Organizations, NGO/INGOs’ which are available When visiting places outside Yangon for work/ 19.07. Martyr’s Day at: http://www.ibiblio.org/obl/docs3/guidelines-English-official.pdf. 08.12. National Day humanitarian purposes, it is necessary to obtain 25.12. Christmas Day a Travel Authority (TA) from the government. If Hiring staff travelling to Nay Pyi Taw, this process usually In addition, the timing of the Hiring local staff is becoming increasingly following holidays varies each year: takes less than one week, for all other states and difficult as more international businesses and Public holiday 2013 2014 regions it can take three to four weeks. It is NGOs set up operations in Myanmar. The best Full Moon of Tabaung 26.03. 16.04. therefore necessary to plan ahead for all trips Full Moon of Kason 25.05. 06.05. outside Yangon to allow for adequate time to way to advertise for national staff is to place ads Full Moon of Waso 22.07. 12.07. in journals like the Myanmar Times or on the Full Moon of Thadingyut 21.10. 09.10. process the TAs. Your host organisation will be Full Moon of Tazaungmone 18.11. 22.11. following websites: able to provide more details. http://www.themimu.info/jobs/ Note that Buddhist festivals are declared http://ngoinmyanmar.org/vacancies based on local astronomical observations; it is not possible to forecast the dates exactly.

Money Source: www.worldtravelguide.net Until recently, Myanmar was disconnected from Cost of living the international banking system - there were The cost of living for expatriates in Myanmar, no automatic teller machines (ATMs), no bank particularly in Yangon and Mandalay, has transfer (like Western Union), and credit cards recently sky-rocketed. Accommodation that is were not accepted. As of mid-2013, a limited suitable for expatriates in terms of access to number of ATMs are available (but unreliable) electricity and water in convenient locations is in around Yangon; credit cards are accepted by high demand with new businesses, NGOs and few businesses. Embassies. Mercer’s Cost of Living Survey ranked Yangon as the world’s 35th most th The best way is to bring in cash - crisp and clean expensive city in the world (2011: 70 ; 2010: th USD notes are widely accepted; larger 159 ). As of March 2012, Yangon was more denominations ($100) will often get a higher expensive to live in than Milan, Rome, Madrid, exchange rate. Money changers and shop Barcelona, Vienna, Berlin and Dubai. keepers are extremely fussy in what USD notes they accept. Notes that are marked, have Restrictions stamps on them, torn, or folded in any way will There are some areas in Myanmar that are get rejected entirely or given a very low restricted for foreigners. All travel outside exchange rate. Therefore it is worth taking the normal tourist spots need Travel Authorisation time to obtain pristine new, unmarked USD as mentioned above. notes. USD can then be changed into Myanmar Kyat (MMK). There are 100, 200, 500, 1,000, Communications 5,000 and 10,000 Kyat notes but most taxi Internet service is unreliable and not readily drivers and small shop owners prefer not to available in many parts of Myanmar, particularly handle or change larger notes. 1,000 Kyat notes outside of Yangon. The telephone network is are widely accepted in all situations. It is quite unreliable and limited to cities and large towns. common to carry and pay with large wads of It is difficult and costly to make international cash in shops and restaurants. If spending some calls from Myanmar. International GSM roaming time in Myanmar, you may even pick up the is not available and only Myanmar SIM cards will Myanmar talent of counting notes quickly. function in Myanmar.

www.banyaneer.com in profile | myanmar 7

supporting practitioners to reinforce resilience across south & south-east asia

Precautions • Wear conservative clothing, best to cover the Myanmar: six handy websites It is prudent to take care and take heed of all shoulders if you are a woman and wear skirts MIMU http://themimu.info visa and travel authority processes. You must below the knees. If visiting a pagoda it is more 1 The Myanmar Information carry your passport during all domestic travel appropriate to wear long pants for men or a Management Unit (MIMU) provides lists of maps, outside of Yangon. All guest houses and hotels longyi (traditional sarong ) for women. baseline data, publications, a take note of your visa details. It is not contact list and features a uncommon that these will alert local authorities • Do not kiss in public, particularly around library. if your visa has expired or if it appears that you religious areas such as pagodas. Local Resource Centre are on a business trip while holding a tourist http://lrcmyanmar.org/en • Use your right hand when dealing with people. visa. Unmarked land mines are a danger in parts 2 The Local Resource Centre (LRC) focuses on the of Myanmar, particularly in border areas. Avoid pointing strongly with only one hand. It is development of local NGOs; most polite to shake hands, pass something, its sites provides profiles of pay for goods or point to people with your right local and international It is illegal to drive in Myanmar without a valid hand while holding your right elbow with your NGOs as well as donors. Myanmar driver’s licence - foreign and/or left hand. international driving licenses are not accepted. The Myanmar Times Driving in Myanmar can be dangerous because • Do not sit with your feet pointing towards http://www.mmtimes.com of aggressive driving practices, poorly 3 Online version of Myanmar’s people and in particular to a Buddha image, English language daily maintained vehicles and roads, livestock and pagoda or monk. Tuck your feet behind you or newspaper. pedestrians on the road and the lack of street sit cross-legged when on the floor. lighting. A driver involved in an accident with a International Crisis Group pedestrian is always regarded to be at fault and • Do not use your feet to point to anything http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/ is likely to be detained. It is illegal to leave the 4 regions/asia/south-east-asia/ myanmar.aspx scene of an accident. Public transportation • Avoid touching monks In-depth country reports within Myanmar, including air, river and rail about political and security developments. travel, often does not meet international safety • Always ask permission to take photographs. standards. Fatal accidents occur regularly, and Some people really do not like it – in particular

Yangon Life search and rescue capacities are limited. some monks. However there will be many http://www.yangonlife.com.mm willing participants, so it is always best to check Yangon's new locally 5 first. produced community Air travel website for expats living in The safety record of domestic airlines is not Yangon will soon replace its • Learn some Myanmar language – just a few publicly available, nor is information on the predecessor: words will bring big smiles and much http://www.whatsonyangon.com Myanmar government’s oversight of appreciation by the locals. maintenance standards of domestic airlines.

Australian Smart Traveller This lack of transparency raises concerns about • Agree on the taxi fare before you accept the Security Advice airline safety in Myanmar. You should be aware 6 http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/ ride. zw-cgi/view/Advice/Myanmar that airlines operating in Myanmar sometimes Regularly updated security use aircraft from outside their own fleet. incidents and advice, including on airline safety. Passengers are not advised in advance when this is the case. There have been a number of Your feedback recent accidents involving Myanma Airways, Air Banyaneer provides country profiles as a free service. In order to and Air KBZ. enhance the quality and relevance of our country profiles, we would appreciate if you could give us your Cultural notes and tips feedback on this profile in a one- Myanmar is a fairly conservative and a predomi- minute survey. Start by clicking on the link below: nantly Buddhist country. The following guide- https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ lines should be followed to pay respect to local QR5V9TD people and culture and to avoid causing offence:

8 myanmar | in profile www.banyaneer.com