For the general population, modes of long distance transport within Burma remained restricted to bus, train and boat. It was reported by the KNAHR that in Karenni State, air travel for civilians is not available as all air tickets are reserved for military and civil service officials only. Ten seats are reserved for military officials and all others are for civil service officials. KNAHR further reported that occasionally it is possible to buy a plane ticket by bribing a military official, although it is likely the price for the ticket will be double. This situation is not restricted to Karenni State, however, and it can be said that for financial, or other reasons, travel by air is not experienced by the majority of people in Burma.

Leaving the country (legally) requires the possession of specific government authorization, which it is extremely difficult to obtain. The SPDC carefully scrutinizes prospective travel abroad. This produces rampant corruption as many applicants are forced to pay large bribes to obtain passports to which they are otherwise entitled. The official board that reviews passport applications denies in some cases apparently on political ground. All college and higher education graduates who obtain passport (except for certain government employees) are required to pay a specific education clearance fee to reimburse the government. The authorities on occasion restrict the issuance of passports to young women applicants seeking work abroad, reportedly to prevent young women from being enticed to travel abroad for jobs that are in fact in the commercial sex industry. Burmese citizens are required to return their passports to the authorities each time they re-enter the country; a passport application must be submitted each time they want to travel outside the country.

Government servants, in general, are required to obtain advance permission before meeting with foreigners. Military intelligence continues frequently to monitor the movements of foreigners and to question citizens about conversations with foreigners. Burmese embassies abroad issue tourist visas, valid for one month, however, select categories of applicants, such as foreign human rights advocates, journalists and political figures, continue to be denied entry visas unless traveling under the agency of a sponsor acceptable to the SPDC, and for purpose approved by the authorities. Although some areas of the country remain closed to foreigners for security reasons, the authorities permit travel to most other destinations. Rangoon-based diplomats generally must apply ten days in advance for travel outside the capital.

The SPDC, as part of its year 2000 campaign to destroy the NLD, stepped up its movement restrictions against the political party and its members. Most notable was the 9 day period during which Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her party were prevented from traveling to meet with party members, and the later date when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party members were prevented from travelling by train to Mandalay and subsequently arrested. The SPDC also continued to use the 1961 Habitual Offenders Restrictions Act, which precludes members of political parties from leaving their localities or their houses without prior permission from the authorities. If the politicians break this law, they risk arrest and interrogation by the police or military intelligence agents. A number of NLD elected representatives have been arrested or charged under this act, which was intended to be applied only to restrict the movement of habitual offenders of the law.

Travel within the country, the majority of which is under SPDC control continues to be monitored and numerous checkpoints exist along all major travel-routes. In areas of conflict, the number of these checkpoints increases dramatically, and there have been incidents where checkpoint officials have forced passengers with torn or tattered ID cards to pay large fines. During military operations or times of military insecurity, more checkpoints are opened and roads are often blocked off.

From September 2 to14, 2000, following the return of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the other NLD members from the 9 day stand-off in Dala, (see below) about 10 policemen blocked the gate of the NLD headquarters in Yangon, maintained a cordon around the building, and prepared barriers for road blocks but did not seal off the road leading to the building. Other police forces were deployed in the area. They did not appear to be armed, but police with riot gear and shields were visible behind the scenes. During this time, the authorities also blocked access to the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the other NLD leaders who were held under virtual house arrest.

On September 7 2000, residents reported that security forces had parked vans, cars and motorcycles on both ends of the street leading to Aung San Suu Kyi’s house. Her neighborhood is typically blocked off to reporters and diplomats.

On September 16 2000, military authorities blocked the road to the NLD headquarters, two days after announcing the easing of tough restrictions against the party led by Aung San Suu Kyi.  Traffic police and plainclothes intelligence officers manned road blocks marked by ‘no entry’ signs on the approaches to the two-story NLD office in downtown Yangon, where the party planned had planned to hold a meeting. Officials said the meeting would be allowed to go ahead, but only party members could attend. It commemorates the second anniversary of the CRPP. Diplomats, reporters and veteran politicians of the struggle for independence, who were all invited to the meeting, were not be allowed in. 

On September 27 2000, MIS and police manned roadblocks closing off the road in front of NLD headquarters in Rangoon to prevent any celebrations marking the NLD’s 12th anniversary, even though Aung San Suu Kyi and other NLD leaders were under de facto house arrest. They also patrolled the area and forced traffic entering and leaving the capital to detour around the street where NLD headquarters is located. NLD members were not allowed entry to their party headquarters.

In late March and April 2000, additional security was enforced in Northern Shan State due to the SPDC Ministers’ visit led by General Maung Aye and Lieutenant General Tin Oo which began on March 27 2000. Security was placed in all major townships and the towns along the Ministers’ trip route, and surprise visitor checks were conducted in each household.. The delegation visited several cities in Northern Shan State such as Lashio, Nampawng, Muse, Kutkai, Lauhkai, Namkhan, Hsenwi, Namphakha, Kowngian and Tashwehtan. (Source: Ava News)

In mid 2000 SPDC regional command issued a new curfew order in Loikaw City, the capital of Karenni State. The curfew dictated that no resident would be allowed on the streets between 21:00 – 04:00. It further clarified that those found violating the curfew would be shot on the spot without questions. The police and troops are guarding every street-corner and checking all travelers to insure they are not rebel supporters, robbers, rapists or drug traffickers. (Source: KNAHR)

On October 11 2000, SPDC local authorities in Paung town, Mon State issued an order that prohibited citizens from crossing the local railroad between 6 PM and 6 AM. Local authorities also reminded the people that if they were seen crossing the railway, that they would be shot to death without question. The majority inhabitants in that around area live off cultivation crops, and as their cultivation fields are located west of the railway, they have been encountering many difficulties to get to their farmlands. (Source: HURFOM)

In areas of ethnic insurgency, there are often severe restrictions placed upon movement. In "brown" or "black" areas, people wishing to leave their village often must obtain a permission slip from local officials before they can go out to tend their farms, or travel. In These permission slips are usually only obtained if a "fee" is paid. In relocation sites, people are often not allowed to return to their land, as they have been warned that anyone moving about in their former fields and towns will be shot on site. In addition, it is common for the army to burn houses and place landmines in the former fields and towns of relocated people to further prevent them from returning.

Villagers in the "Nyein Chan Yay" ("peace") villages under SPDC control are required to get letters of recommendation whenever they want to go out of the village. These are usually written by the village headman who has been given a stamp by the local military unit, however in some places it is the soldiers who write the letters. Each letter costs 50 kyat. The money is collected by the village headman and sometimes put into a fund to be used for the village. In Kler Lah Relocation Site, the letters allow the villagers to go back to work in their fields; however, many of their fields are two or more hours away and the passes are usually only good for one day, or at best a few days. This has a direct effect on their crops, because the amount of time to plant large plots or to properly care for their crops is severely restricted. The time the villagers can spend in their fields is further limited by all the time they have to spend doing forced labour, or doing local wage labor just to raise money to pay all the SPDC extortion fees. However, the Kler Lah villagers are usually allowed to go to Pa Leh Wah and Toungoo to buy rice, trade goods and to go to the hospital. The permit for this is 250 kyat, exclusive of the car fare and any other ‘fees’ along the way. (Source: KHRG)

On May 22, 2000, Company commander Sann Win from SPDC LIB 357, issued an order that any villager in Tha-ton Township, Tha-ton District, Karen State, going out of their village must get a pass from him. The fee for the pass for one day was 20 kyat. The fee for staying out one night outside of the village was 500 kyat. (Source: KIC)

At the end of October 2000, LIB No.299, based in southern part of Ye Township, ordered all villages in the area to build fences around their villages by the first week of November. About 10 villages, small and large, such as Khaw-za, Kha-pya, Yinye, Yin-dein, Hangan, Kalort and Kaw-hlaing, were affected by this order. The order was given to prevent Mon armed groups from entering the villages at the end of the rainy season and asking for taxes and food. In addition to fencing the villages, the army made some restrictions against the villagers. They prohibited all villagers from staying at their farms at night and from keeping extra foods in their farms. They also commanded that the villagers would be required to take permission letters from their village headman whenever they went to their farms or fruit plantations. They were threatened that if they did not have the required letters of permission that they could be accused of being rebel-supporters. (Source: HURFOM)

On July 4 2000, a combined column of troops from LIB 530, led by Maj Thar Oo, and the KNPLF led by Maung Yun, marched to Phukraku village, west of Pruso town, Karenni State. The troops prohibited the villagers from leaving the village for cultivation for three days. (Source: KNAHR)

On September 18 2000, the commander of LIB 531 issued an order to the village chiefs of Moe Soe and Dopreh villages, Karenni State. The order stated that no villagers were allowed to go and work in their paddy fields, or else they would be killed by troops. (Source: KNAHR)

On October 7 2000, SPDC military strategy no.1, central military command no.7 issued an order which made a large area of land in Karenni State a temporary black zone. The order stated that from the mentioned date in the order onwards, the military authorities had defined the areas east of Pruso-Kadalah main road, south of Deemaw Soe-HteePoKlo, west of HteePoKlo-Daw Takleh, and Daw Takleh-MarKrawshe area as restricted areas. This meant that no villagers were allowed to leave the village to go to their paddy fields or look for firewood within such restricted areas. In addition, all cowherds were restricted from going to their grazing grounds in these areas. If they failed to comply with the order and therefore were in danger, it would be their own responsibility. As the order didn’t state the end date of the restriction it was a big challenge for the farmers who rely only on their cultivation for their livelihood. This is the time for farmers to weed their fields and some needed to harvest their groundnuts. (Source: KNAHR)

At the end of October 2000, LIB No.299, based in southern part of Ye Township, ordered all villages in the area to build fences around their villages by the first week of November. About 10 villages, small and large, such as Khaw-za, Kha-pya, Yinye, Yin-dein, Hangan, Kalort and Kaw-hlaing, were affected by this order. The order was given to prevent Mon armed groups from entering the villages at the end of the rainy season and asking for taxes and food. In addition to fencing the villages, the army made some restrictions against the villagers. They prohibited all villagers from staying at their farms at night and from keeping extra foods in their farms. They also commanded that the villagers would be required to take permission letters from their village headman whenever they went to their farms or fruit plantations. They were threatened that if they did not have the required letters of permission that they could be accused of being rebel-supporters. Due to the various restrictions, the villagers have not been able to work as they like at their farms or they have less time to work there. (Source: HURFOM)

The buildup of SPDC troop movements in Loo Thaw township, Karen State continues. SPDC troop activities usually occurs every two weeks in the areas of Pya Gaw, Ler Mu Plaw, Saw Mu Plaw, Maw Pu and Saw Hta. They lay land mines in places where they have reached, making it difficult for villagers to move. (Source: CIDKP)

It is still virtually impossible for Muslim Rohingya people to move within Arakan State or to other parts of Burma from Arakan State. Only citizens carrying identity cars are free to travel within the country, which precludes movement by those unable to meet the restrictive provisions of the "citizen law". Rohingya (Bengali-speaking Muslims) who would like to travel outside the village must apply to the local SPDC authorities, which pass requests on to nearest administrative base. This was changed in June 2000.

On June 7 2000, a meeting was held by Maj. Gen. Aung Htwe, the commander of the Western Command in Arakan state capital Akyab (Sittwe). The meeting was attended by members of the all Township PDC, Districts PDCs, the Director of Immigration, the Head of the MI and Director of the NaSaKa (Western Area Command) Headquarters. The meeting discussed, among other things, about further restricting the movement of Rohingyas from place to place. Earlier the Rohingyas could travel from one place to another on the recommendations of village PDCs. But following this meeting they are not allowed to travel within their own localities unless they carry with them recommendations or Exit Passes from 4 quarters or departments such as, (1). Town-ship PDC (2) District PDC (3) Military Intelligence (4) Area Commander of NaSaKa. In addition, they need to fill-up "Form-4" issued by the Department of Immigration. It is a great problematic matter, even impossible, for a poor Rohingya traveler to obtain such documents as he is required to pay a sum of kyats 2,800 to concerned authorities to process Exit Passes which are usually valid only for 24 hours. If any Rohingya is found to have defaulted the new regulation, he is jailed for 3 years under false accusation of illegal immigration. (Source: ARNO)

In most cases, passes are only granted for a twelve-hour period; only on rare occasion are Muslims permitted to stay outside their village overnight. To travel further, for instance, to the Township capitals at Maungdaw or Buthidaung or the state capital at Sittwe is virtually impossible.

On April 3 2000, a Muslim man known as Jalal and his wife were fined 8,000 kyats for being Muslim by SPDC authorities, led by Captain Nyunt Maung. They had been traveling by bus along the Myawaddy-Pa-an Highway in Karen State, and when the bus was stopped at a checkpoint the authorities checked the National Registration Cards of the passengers . When this couple’s ID indicated that they were Muslim, they were arrested and fined 8,000 kyats. (Source: MICB)

On May 20 2000, SPDC authorities led by U Shwe Maung and an army sergeant, Kyaw Han, stopped a bus at the Kya Kalay checkpoint on the Kawkereik-Pa-an Road and checked the passengers’ National Registration Cards. The ID cards of (1) U Kho Chee, age 35 from Thaya Gone village, Thaton Township, Mon State, (2) Ko Soe Naing, age 28, and (3) Ko Khin Oo, age 30 from Pa-an District, Karen State indicated that the 3 were non-Buddhist. (2 were Muslim, and one Christian). As a result, the 3 were arrested, brought to the army camp, each fined 18,000 kyats, and sentenced to 5 days in jail under the immigration act. (Source: MICB)

The Rangoon-Akyab (Sittwe) Highway was opened in February 2000. Yet the Muslim Rohingya minority are prohibited to travel on it. 10 Rohingya Muslims traveling with identity cards from Akyab to Rangoon were arrested by the army at Taunggup checkpoint on June 1 2000. Their whereabouts remained unknown as of January 2001, and they were believed to have been killed. (Source: ARNO)

On June 23 2000, SPDC immigration officers checked the ID cards of passengers at the Myaing Kalay- Wa Poe Taw checkpoint gate on the Rangoon to Myawaddy highway. Officers led by U Kha Staw arrested 4 Burmese Muslims, despite the fact that they had their ID cards, and all was in order. Passengers (1) Ko Soe Thein, age 23, (2) Ko Win Lwin, age 31, (3) Ko Soe Naing, age 34, (all from Rangoon) and (4) U Ismail, age 33 from Kawkereik, Karen State were all arrested and made to pay a fine of 8,000 kyats. (Source: MICB)

On October 23 2000, junta’s immigration officers arrested a Muslim man and extorted money from him in Arakan state of Burma. The junta’s immigration officers led by-Assistant immigration officer of Sandoway, U Hla Zaw stopped a bus with about 35 passengers and arrested the only Muslim among them at Andaw check point of Sandoway district. Then the officers demanded kyats 50,000 or they said they would send him to the jail because the Muslim tried to go from one town to another (in the same district). The Muslim (Rohingyas) are not allowed to go from one place to another in Arakan state. However, a settlement reached with what the Muslim had give them kyats 25,000 as extortion money and he was allowed to return home. According to a trader, name withheld, the Muslim, U Tun Win lived in house No.40, Yadana street, Kyauk NiMaw, Rambree township, Sanddoway district, Arakan state. (Source: MICB)

The military authorities have maintained strict controls on Aung San Suu Kyi’s travel outside the capital since freeing her from six years of house arrest in 1995.  In 2000 these restrictions were put to the test when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD party members twice attempted to travel outside of Rangoon.

On the morning of August 24 2000, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo (Vice Chairman of NLD), U Soe Myint (chairman of Rangoon Division NLD Organizing Committee), Dr. Aung Myo, and l6 NLD youths, using two cars, arrived at Pansodan jetty on the morning of to cross over to Dala.  The plan was to visit the townships of Kungyangon and Kawhmu to reorganize the Youth Wing.  The authorities blocked their departure at the Pansodan jetty for one and a half hours after which they crossed to the town of Dala where they boarded two cars which were awaiting them to proceed to Kungyangon. About three miles outside of Dala at Kyansitha ward, the road was blocked by members of the Police, the Fire Department, Red Cross, and the USDA. Police Superintendent Myo Lwin told them that they could not proceed further and they should return to Rangoon. U Tin Oo , Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and party refused. The cars were then forced off the road and onto a dirt track.  The vehicles, with their tires deflated, were about 200 yards from the road and a police truck was also stationed there to prevent them from moving on. The Army and Intelligence Units were seen directing the blockade from behind the scenes but were not taking part directly. The car Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was in had no air conditioning but she remained in her car, shaded by members of her party who took turns to stand at the window with an umbrella. The gap between the vehicles was covered with a makeshift tent.  NLD vice-chairman U Tin Oo, who accompanied Aung San Suu Kyi on the journey, was seen walking around the vehicles but never moving far from the area. Journalists representing the foreign media were barred from making the river crossing to Dala and were turned away by military intelligence stationed at the jetty. NLD youths who went along were asked by the NLD leaders to buy food for the group, which was kept isolated from the local people.

A senior spokesman for the military regime confirmed that Aung San Suu Kyi and a group accompanying her had been halted at Dala and told to remain there or return to Rangoon. The regime stated that, "Due to threats by armed insurgent separatist forces, travel by prominent persons to some parts of the country is at present inadvisable," "As a prominent citizen of Myanmar ... the government will take all necessary action in protecting her from these threats while also safeguarding her human rights, as much as possible including the right to freedom of movement." The regime also claimed in their media that the NLD members were merely "visiting" Dala and that all their needs were being provided for. (see Appendix #1) To support its assertion that Suu Kyi was being properly looked after and provided with food and water, the government released five photographs of Suu Kyi’s ``visit to Dala.’’ One showed several men laden with plastic bags walking along a path towards the parked cars, with the caption: ``Suu Kyi’s travel companions coming back from shopping at nearby food stores in time for high-tea.’’

This incident is similar to a situation that occurred in August of 1998 which captured international attention.  At that time Daw Aung San Suu Kyi attempted to visit NLD members in Bassein.  Her car was stopped by SPDC authorities near Anyar Su village in Nyaung Done township. She was unable to move for 12 days due to the fact that SPDC had surrounded her car with barbed wire. After two or three days she refused to accept food from SPDC and staged a hunger strike.  The confrontation ended when female police officers forced Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from her car and she was driven back to Rangoon by the authorities.  She had received minor injuries as a result of this incident and was in poor health due to lack of drinking water and food during her ordeal.

From September 2 to September 14, 2000, following the Dala incident, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, U Tin Oo, and all the members of the NLD Central Executive Committee were kept under house arrest. British diplomats who tried to visit Suu Kyi and Tin Oo at their homes were stopped by security personnel. Military officials denied that other NLD leaders were under house arrest, but said that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Tin OO had been asked to stay in their homes and their movements were being temporarily restricted. On September 14 2000, the government announced it was lifting restrictions against Suu Kyi and eight other party leaders who had been confined to their homes for two weeks after Suu Kyi tried to travel outside Yangon for party work.  In her first public comments since her confinement on September 15, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared determined to maintain political pressure on the military regime and announced her intention to try and travel beyond the capital within 10 days. 

When Daw Aung San Suu Kyi tried to visit Mandalay in 1996 to visit jailed supporters, her carriage was disconnected from the rest of the train just before it left. Officials had blamed technical problems. 

The military regime placed Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and members of the NLD central executive committee under house arrest following the incident at the Rangoon Main Railway Station. Naturally, severe restrictions of movement coincided with the house arrest. They are only permitted to leave their homes for emergency medical treatment. The government has denied Suu Kyi and senior colleagues are under house arrest, but said they had been asked to "stay at their respective residences’’ while it investigated reports that some NLD members had been involved in "terrorist activity.’’

Appendix # 1

SPDC: Daw Su Kyi and Companions Continue to Rest in Dala Township
Myanmar Information Committee
Yangon, Myanmar
Information Sheet -N0. B-1494(I/L) 25th August, 2000

Daw Su Kyi, U Soe Myint, U Tin Oo and her personal chauffeur together with the 12 travel companions continue to rest in Sarpachaun ward of Dala town today, while the local authorities make every effort to ensure their comfort and safety.
        NLD sources in Yangon said Daw Su Kyi had taken extra food supplies but government officials together with Dala township NLD members provided some fresh fruits while her travel companions bought some bottles of mineral water and soft drinks from the nearby food stores.
        Until safety conditions improve, Daw Su Kyi is visiting Dala, a small but charming town which is (10) minutes by boat from Yangon. In case of emergency the Government has provided Daw Su Kyi with an ambulance from Yangon with one physician and six medical attendances remaining nearby around the clock to ensure her maximum comfort and welfare.