Burma (Myanmar) 2020 Crime & Safety Report This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon (Yangon). OSAC encourages travelers to use this report to gain baseline knowledge of security conditions in Burma (Myanmar). For more in-depth information, review OSAC’s Burma country page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Travel Advisory The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Burma at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to areas of civil unrest and armed conflict. Do not travel to: • Buthidaung, Kyauktaw, Maungdaw, Minbya, Mrauk- U, Ponnagyun, and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine State due to civil unrest and armed conflict. • Paletwa township in Chin State due to civil unrest and armed conflict • Hpakan, Momauk, Sumprabum, Tanai, and Waingmaw townships in Kachin State due to civil unrest and armed conflict. • Hpapun township in Kayin State due to civil unrest. • Hseni, Hsipaw, Konkyan, Kutkai, Kyaukme, Laukkaing, Matman, Mongmao, Muse, Namphan, Namtu, Pangsang, and Pangwaun townships in Shan State due to civil unrest and armed conflict. Reconsider travel to: • Ann, and Myebon townships in Rakhine State due to civil unrest and armed conflict. • Matupi township in Chin State due to civil unrest. • Bhamo, Mansi, and Mogaung townships in Kachin State due to civil unrest. • Hopang, Lashio, Mongkaung, Namhsan, Nanhkan townships in Shan State due to civil unrest. • Lashio township in Shan State due to civil unrest. Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Department of State has assessed Rangoon as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests. Although the police do not issue crime or arrest statistics, the rising cost of living, increasing expatriate presence, and rapidly expanding tourism sector appear to have led to an uptick in crime. In Rangoon, Burmese nationals experience nighttime robbery, petty street crime, home invasion, and homicide at rates similar to other major cities in Southeast Asia. Many reports of crime are unverifiable due to third-party sources that are difficult to corroborate. 1 The most common crimes expatriates report are non-violent crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing, theft of unattended possessions in public places, and bag snatchings. Exercise the same level of caution you would in any major city in the U.S. Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind. Incidents of financial fraud are increasing. While Burma is still largely a cash-only society, this is changing, particularly in the larger urban areas where many stores, hotels, and restaurants catering to tourists accept credit cards as a form of payment. You can find ATMs in larger urban areas, but it is common for them to run out of money, especially on local paydays. Travelers must often carry large sums of local currency, especially to more rural locations. Avoid flashing large sums of currency in public. Review OSAC’s reports, The Overseas Traveler’s Guide to ATM Skimmers & Fraud and Taking Credit. Avoid responding to unsolicited opportunities to make money, including business opportunities that seem too good to be true. Beware of merchants selling gems, gold, and/or semi-precious stones; purchasing these items could result in substantial loss of money and/or a violation of local laws. Do not purchase gems or minerals from an unlicensed source. Violent crime and the use of weapons in the commission of crimes are not common. In the event of an armed confrontation, immediately hand over the desired property to avoid escalation or injury. There were only three break-ins of diplomatic or foreign owned residences in Rangoon’s Bahan Township in 2019. Proper use of door and gates locks would likely have prevented these crimes. Supervise all workers in your residence. Keep doors and windows of residences and hotel rooms secured. Do not store valuable items and large amounts of currency at home; they may attract the attention of criminals. Review OSAC’s reports, Hotels: The Inns and Outs and Considerations for Hotel Security. Cybersecurity Issues Authorities may prosecute, fine, and/or imprison you for posting negative or derogatory comments on social media, including Facebook, under the 2013 Telecommunications Law, which criminalizes “extortion of any person, coercion, unlawful restriction, defamation, interfering, undue influence, or intimidation using a telecommunications network.” Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling with Mobile Devices: Trends & Best Practices, and Satellite Phones: Critical or Contraband? Other Areas of Concern Internal ethnic conflicts, communal violence, and religious tensions make certain areas outside of Rangoon off-limits for Embassy personnel. You must obtain permission to visit sensitive areas from the Burmese government prior to travel. Foreigners traveling overland outside of Rangoon or other major cities/tourist destinations may experience problems without a Burmese interpreter to facilitate interaction with non-English speakers. 2 Transportation and Safety Situation Road Safety and Road Conditions Although major thoroughfares (e.g. the Rangoon-Mandalay highway) have received government attention and undergone safety improvements, many roads throughout Burma are in poor condition and/or may be impassable after heavy rains. Many roads lack pavement, lighting, shoulders, and/or grading. Driving under these conditions has led to an increase in fatalities, particularly on highways. U.S. Embassy personnel may not drive outside of major cities after dark. The monsoon season (May-October) presents additional transportation and logistics challenges including mud, deep potholes, flooding, and near-zero visibility at times. These challenges may hamper the ability to drive safely. Drivers should familiarize themselves with flood-prone areas and travel in high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Inclement weather may add several hours to estimated travel time. Only travel during daylight hours using road worthy vehicles. Those driving to remote areas should consider using redundant vehicles and carrying vehicle recovery equipment in the event a vehicle becomes stuck or breaks down. Vehicle import restrictions have eased, causing the number of vehicles on Rangoon’s streets to increase in recent years. Narrow streets congested with vehicles, pedestrians, and animals; poor road maintenance; and inadequate traffic infrastructure can result in difficult daily commutes. Many motorists are new to driving. Drivers are often impatient and exhibit little consideration for pedestrians, other motorists’ right-of-way, or general safe driving practices. Drivers routinely cross into oncoming traffic to pass, pull into traffic without looking, fail to merge properly, and cut off other vehicles. Many vehicle accidents occur due to the erratic behavior of local drivers. Exercise caution when driving. You must have a Burmese government recognized driver license to operate a motor vehicle in Burma. Burma does not recognize driver’s licenses from the United States; an international driver license is only valid for one year. Pedestrians often walk in the middle of roads or stand on painted lane dividers, often only inches from passing vehicles, seemingly unaware of the potential safety hazard. Many pedestrians wear dark clothing, and local drivers tend to use high beams at night (or no headlights at all), posing additional risks to other motorists and pedestrians. In 2017, a passing motorist struck and killed a U.S. citizen attempting an ill- advised crossing of a busy road at night. Another struck a U.S citizen pedestrian while making an illegal turn, causing serious injuries. Pedestrians should maintain a high degree of situational awareness and not assume they have the right of way. By law, authorities permit no alcohol in one’s system while operating a vehicle. Nevertheless, drunk or drug-impaired driving is a major concern and poses a significant risk to visitors, especially at night. Drivers also must contend with motorbikes, which often lack proper signals and safety gear; give them a wide berth. Always keep adequate space behind the vehicle in front of you to ensure adequate stopping distance. Bicycling can also be hazardous due to poor road conditions and erratic drivers. Be aware of what is taking place outside of the vehicle. It is common for beggars and street vendors to approach vehicles at stoplights. Always keep your windows up and your doors locked. Always park in secure, well- lighted locations. Do not hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers. Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the State Department’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad. 3 Public Transportation Conditions Public transportation (e.g. taxis, bus, and rail) is readily available in Rangoon and some parts of the country. Most trains and buses are overcrowded; others are old and in poor condition, frequently causing them to break down, for these reasons the U.S. Embassy discourages the use of public transportation for its employees. In Rangoon, taxis are a more reliable method of transportation. They are generally