Getting Video out of Burma

Hi All,

This one is to those with recent experience of the situation in Burma.

I've finally decided to go to Burma in December, in part because it sounds like a wonderful country I've been wanting to visit for a long time, and in part to suss out the current situation and lend some solidarity to the Burmese just by being there.

I'll be taking a video camera in, in case anyone feels the need to share stories that they want the outside world to hear. Before I get trolled, obviously I won't be asking anyone directly or doing anything that puts anyone in any danger.

I've been reading history and literature of Burma for several years now and have as good an idea of the political situation as you can without going there.

I've heard stories from the old days where travellers were followed around the country on a map with a pin. From personal experience how great is the surveillance of foreigners these days and can I expect to get searched on the way out?

Any helpful information on responsible travel over there would be highly appreciated. Trolling not necessary.

Cheers,
thirstie

You can probably take a small recreational camera in the country.

But you also will have nothing to film unusual, the military is very under the radar there, and if you do see the military and decide to photograph them or video them, you would be mistaken, and will have your camera and film, most likely taken.

There is also under cover thugs and lots of civil police, they will be watching what you do, outside of the tourist sights you would want to photograph. Just taking a picture of road crews (women and children) working on the shoulder next to soldiers, would require some nerve, and most likely cause yourself some major trouble.

There is a reason there is few phones, cell phones and no beepers, they dont like the people communicating....

This is a rather peculiar post.

For someone so knowledgeable about Myanmar, you're acting a bit silly. The people on the ground there are capable of getting news out on their own. I'm all for going to have a wonderful experience, but if you cruise around with your camcorder acting like a secret agent, you'll end up either being disappointed or causing problems for yourself or, worse still, others. I shall use the above as an example: if you are in a car and photograph something that gets someone pissed off, they'll take your memory card, and you'll be free to go. I do not think I would predict the same for your driver. He would likely be in a heap of trouble even though he did nothing wrong. Something about the Myanmar people you will not see in a book or periodical: that driver of yours would probably not ask you to stop taking photos even if he knew that you were causing problems.

Keep your political activities confined to your own countries. Myanmar has plenty of its own heroes.

His profile states he is a Professional troublemaker...

Myanmar will test that for sure....

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>From personal experience how great is the surveillance of foreigners these days and can I expect to get searched on the way out?<hr></blockquote> Having travelled to Myanmar on a regular basis since 2001 till know, I've been able to see the gradual relaxation of scrutiny on foreign travellers over the years. When I first started going there in 2001 very few people would dare to bring laptops in tot he country where as now, it's common. I remember sneaking in my mobile phone (not that if could be used here, but I need it for my travels to other countries along the way) in the early 2000's because you had to declare it and leave it at customs which I didn't want to do. But now it's no drama to bring mobile phones in to the country. Gradually things are becoming more relaxed.

Having said that, they still do check your things on your way our of the country and this is not just the aviation security checks. At the old terminal after you pass through customs to enter the waiting area at the boarding gate, they will xray your bags as per usual, but you may also get called up by uniformed police who will go through your hand luggage as well as wallets and pockets. This happens at random but it's happened to me on many occasions, even though I'm a decent and innocent looking sort of guy. It might be the fact that my passport has so many Myanmar visa stamps that causes them to be suspicious of me, but I usually get waved on when they find I have nothing of interest. Once they went through my wallet and found phone numbers of friends of mine in Yangon. The officer then joked with me "this is number of your girl friend in Yangon? chuckle chuckle chukle" ... I smiled on walked on ... Little did he know that he was correct! .. chuckle chuckle chuckle ... ;)

Girlfriend in Yangon! I thought that was a rare occurance!
But I guess love happens.

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>if you are in a car and photograph something that gets someone pissed off, they'll take your memory card, and you'll be free to go. I do not think I would predict the same for your driver. <hr></blockquote>

Yes, there are many reports that confirm this. When tourists do something wrong, any Burmese who helped them in any way at all, no matter how innocently, is often punished, while the tourist will face, at the worst, deportation. This is actually a remarkable effective way of policing tourists: everyone works together to make sure that you don't go where you aren't supposed to go or do anything you aren't supposed to do.

Thanks peeps,

Guess I'll have to leave my ACME special secret agent trench coat at home then utom. Damn, it looks so cool with my dark sunglasses. lol.