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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
Ok, so me and a friend want to travel through Burma from Thailand to
Bangladesh, spending about a week there. I am getting inconsistent information about the FEC that hopefully someone could clarify. One site says you must purchase US$200 worth of FECs at a minimum, and cannot trade any leftovers back to any other currency. Another site says US$300. In addition, I was talking to someone on a plane last year that said they had been to visit from Thailand for just a few days (thus I dont believe they would have paid $200 for the privilege). AAARGH!!!! HELP!!! Can someone point out a GOOD and current net resource, or even better, first hand experience. Is there any way to avoid the minimum purchase by buying them in Thailand somehow? If anyone wants to share their experience of the country from a adventure point of view, I would be really grateful!!!! Cheers folks!! --- DFM |
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
Lost For Life wrote:
Ok, so me and a friend want to travel through Burma from Thailand to Bangladesh, spending about a week there. I am getting inconsistent information about the FEC that hopefully someone could clarify. One site says you must purchase US$200 worth of FECs at a minimum, and cannot trade any leftovers back to any other currency. Another site says US$300. In addition, I was talking to someone on a plane last year that said they had been to visit from Thailand for just a few days (thus I dont believe they would have paid $200 for the privilege). AAARGH!!!! HELP!!! A client of mine just returned from a week in Yangon last week and didn't have to purchase ANY this time! A month before he had to buy $200 US. The last time I was there (2 years ago for 4 days) we were 'required' to purchase $200 US per person but the man behind the counter 'suggested' that we give him a present (we did. $5 US) and he only made us purchase $100 for the two of us. Regardless of the ' written laws,' the people behind the desk make their own laws on the spot. Ask them if 'there is something that can be done...' Steve Kramer Chiang Mai, Thailand http://www.photoenvisions.com -- "The voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new horizons, but in seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust |
#3
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
It's also worth remembering that Myanmar has recently stopped
accepting foreign credit cards, so you'll be paying for everything by cash/FECs or Travellers Cheques. |
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question FEC Drops 50%
Two responses. One, it is not possible travel overland from Thailand to Bangladesh through Burma, in case that was your plan. Second, per an article in today's Asia Times Online, "The generals are hurting because the generals and their wives, who are hoarding away hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars of FEC, Foreign Exchange Certificates - which is so-called equivalent to $1 [each] - has plunged to 40 percent or 50 percent of its value. They are in deep trouble," he said. This quote comes from Ross Dunkley, an Aussie expat editing the Myanmar Times, a glossy business paper published under the control of Burmese military intelligence. In a crisis situation such as Burma's, old news is not particularly valuable. The full Asia Times Online article from today is below. Myanmar and stonewalled democracy By Richard S Ehrlich Asia Times, Sep 25, 2003 Many Myanmar nationals want US President George W Bush and the United Nations to invade Myanmar with warplanes and troops to topple the military regime, said Myanmar-based Ross Dunkley, the Australian chief executive officer and managing editor of the government-censored Myanmar Times. "The business community is on the point of collapse" in Myanmar, prompting desperation and despair after the US enforced economic sanctions to push the junta into handing power to a democratically elected administration, Dunkley said. The Myanmar Times is the only English-language weekly allowed to be published in Myanmar, known as Burma until the ruling junta officially renamed the country in 1989. Dunkley's life and work in the capital Yangon, also known as Rangoon, has given him a unique, controversial perspective inside the repressive, hermit nation. "I live in Yangon and I catch a taxi to work every day. And I speak to a lot of people randomly out on the street, and indiscriminately hear opinions from people who don't know who I am and I don't know who they are," the Australian publisher said. "But one thing is pretty common. They all want George W Bush and the UN to come into Myanmar with a whole lot of guns and airplanes and jets and to solve the problem. They believe that's possible." Dunkley made the remarks during a recent news conference and panel discussion at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand, billed as "Prospects for Democracy in Burma". Everyone on the panel agreed that the military regime in continental Southeast Asia's geographically biggest nation was in terrible shape. Dunkley said that despite strict laws against freedom of the press, he taught his journalists and editors to perceive the real situation and report news the best they can. "I talk to them about ethics, about the law, about corruption and about what a ****ed-up government this is," the blunt Dunkley said, drawing a burst of laughter from the audience of journalists, diplomats, business people, activists and others. Dunkley defended his joint venture that produced a newspaper bleached by censorship and offering sanitized domestic and international news and photos, and said it was better than no news at all. He lashed out at a respected US-government-financed Myanmar intellectual, Aung Zaw, who is based in Thailand as editor and director of The Irrawaddy monthly magazine, which seeks an end to military rule in his homeland. "I'm not in Chiang Mai [northern Thailand] like you, Aung Zaw, and I'm not receiving US$250,000 a year from the US government," Dunkley said. Aung Zaw, also on the panel, became livid at that remark and later insisted Irrawaddy magazine was paid "only $100,000" last year from the Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which is funded mostly by the US Congress through the State Department. "We take the money," Aung Zaw replied. "They are not donors. They are a funding agency, a financial institution who believe in what [we] do, who believe in [our] values, who believe in [our] principles, who give [us] money. "It is all transparent and accountable. They believe [we] are pushing for a free press, independent media. That's why they give [us] the money. Nothing wrong with it," Aung Zaw said. "They never interfere. If they interfere, I tell them, 'Get lost.' I would never allow them to come into my office. I don't become a mouthpiece of anybody." For the past 10 years, Irrawaddy magazine has been read by journalists, scholars and others interested in politics, economics and culture in Myanmar, which usually forbids independent investigation of events. The military regime is responsible for some of the worst human-rights violations in the world, according to London-based Amnesty International, Washington-based Human Rights Watch, the US State Department and other monitors. Despite the frequently acrimonious tone to the debate, the remarks by the Australian entrepreneur and the Myanmar intellectual provided a microcosm of the optimism and difficulty faced by people grappling with Myanmar's stonewall against democracy. Critics of the latest US-led sanctions say Myanmar has already suffered a closed economy for more than 40 years - because of its own xenophobic "socialist" policies and various international boycotts. Locking up Myanmar's businesses did not nudge the regime to embrace democracy in the past, and does not appear to be successful now, they said. Sanctions also kept most Myanmar nationals too poor to challenge the military, but modernization and investment could bring new ideas and influences to help Myanmar evolve toward greater freedom, critics added. The latest US sanctions made Myanmar's people "confused, worried and completely disoriented", Dunkley said. "Internally, there has been a run on the banks over the past six months, which the international press has scarcely reported on, but which has had a major impact on business," he said. "There are no credit cards in the country anymore. There are no people running loans or overdrafts. Financial instruments have gone out the window. "No one is really using the banking system anymore," Dunkley said. "Can you imagine ... if you got your paycheck every week and couldn't put it into the bank, couldn't use your credit card, you didn't know how to pay your bills?" Even the regime is being squeezed. "The generals are hurting because the generals and their wives, who are hoarding away hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars of FEC, Foreign Exchange Certificates - which is so-called equivalent to $1 [each] - has plunged to 40 percent or 50 percent of its value. They are in deep trouble," he said. "The business community is on the point of collapse. They are unable to export anymore. And the government has put in rules and regulations that you cannot import goods anymore. "This is dragging the government down even further to the point where something will crack," he predicted. Dunkley said his four-year-old newspaper is read by 300,000 people each week. "We have 49 percent foreign ownership and 51 percent Burmese ownership, and no government money is in our organization. "We employ 300 people and we support their families. And we sell advertising on a commercial basis like everyone else and we don't make any profit," the Australian added. Dunkley said he received financial "support" from Japan's Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a non-government organization, but did not elaborate. "I wish that I was making a profit," Dunkley said. "I'm on the bones of my ass," (Copyright 2003 Richard S Ehrlich.) Editor's note: The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is controlled by Japanese businesses that operate in direct partnerships with Burma's ruling generals. BAG On Wed, 24 Sep 2003, Lost For Life wrote: Ok, so me and a friend want to travel through Burma from Thailand to Bangladesh, spending about a week there. I am getting inconsistent information about the FEC that hopefully someone could clarify. One site says you must purchase US$200 worth of FECs at a minimum, and cannot trade any leftovers back to any other currency. Another site says US$300. In addition, I was talking to someone on a plane last year that said they had been to visit from Thailand for just a few days (thus I dont believe they would have paid $200 for the privilege). AAARGH!!!! HELP!!! Can someone point out a GOOD and current net resource, or even better, first hand experience. Is there any way to avoid the minimum purchase by buying them in Thailand somehow? If anyone wants to share their experience of the country from a adventure point of view, I would be really grateful!!!! Cheers folks!! --- DFM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BURMA ACTION GROUP SAO Box 119, HUB University of Washington http://students.washington.edu/burma/ Seattle, WA 98195 |
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
"Mike987" schreef in bericht ... It's also worth remembering that Myanmar has recently stopped accepting foreign credit cards, so you'll be paying for everything by cash/FECs or Travellers Cheques. Do they still accept traveler Cheques in Myanmar ? who / where ? |
#7
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
Lost For Life wrote:
Ok, so me and a friend want to travel through Burma from Thailand to Bangladesh, spending about a week there. I am getting inconsistent information about the FEC that hopefully someone could clarify. One site says you must purchase US$200 worth of FECs at a minimum, and cannot trade any leftovers back to any other currency. Another site says US$300. In addition, I was talking to someone on a plane last year that said they had been to visit from Thailand for just a few days (thus I dont believe they would have paid $200 for the privilege). AAARGH!!!! HELP!!! Can someone point out a GOOD and current net resource, or even better, first hand experience. Is there any way to avoid the minimum purchase by buying them in Thailand somehow? If anyone wants to share their experience of the country from a adventure point of view, I would be really grateful!!!! Cheers folks!! --- DFM from memory you are meant to buy it at the air port - I bribed someone there so I didn't have to buy it. I think it cost US$10 slipped in my passport. The first time I had ever bribed someone ! coming from NZ which is the 2nd least corrupt country in the world, this was a novel experience... smile while you do it too ! |
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question FEC Drops 50%
On Thu, 25 Sep 2003, Thomas F. Unke wrote:
Burma Action Group writes: Many Myanmar nationals want US President George W Bush and the United Nations to invade Myanmar with warplanes and troops to topple the military regime, said Myanmar-based Ross Dunkley, the Australian chief executive officer and managing editor of the government-censored Myanmar Times. Even if this is a citation, it is disgusting what you quote here. Just consider the ten thousands of deads, the collapse of a country, the economy, all the daily atrocities we see today in Iraq. Shame on you to demand the same for the people of Myanmar. And stupid too: there is no money to be made by an invasion - so it would not happen. Sheesh, take a pill, would you? The article posted came from Asia Times online. It quoted Ross Dunkley who in turn claims that Burmese tell him they'd like an invasion. Since Dunkley's Myanmar Times is under the control of the military regime, that's an odd statement, you must admit. "Shame on you to demand the same for the people of Myanmar" you say. Are you insane or just stupid? I demand nothing of the sort. When will you stop beating your wife? The point of the article, per the thread, was that Dunkley said (and here he probably knows what he's talking about, since Myanmar Times is a purported business paper), "Foreign Exchange Certificates - which is so-called equivalent to $1 [each] - has plunged to 40 percent or 50 percent of its value." He said it this week while on a panel at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok. If I'd pulled the quote out of context, you or others would attack me for selectively posting. Had your rabies shots lately? If you wipe the spittle off your computer screen you might see more clearly. Sheesh. Dunkley said he received financial "support" from Japan's Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a non-government organization, but did not elaborate. Then I do: Sasakawa is a notorious right-extremist, fascist of the worst sort, also a war criminal of WW2. Editor's note: The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is controlled by Japanese businesses that operate in direct partnerships with Burma's ruling generals. BAG They cooperate with all kind of disgusting dictatorships. It is indeed interesting what kind of "reliable" sources the Burma Action Group has. Whatever that's supposed to mean... At least we agree on Sasakawa... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BURMA ACTION GROUP SAO Box 119, HUB University of Washington http://students.washington.edu/burma/ Seattle, WA 98195 |
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question FEC Drops 50%
On Fri, 26 Sep 2003, The Man wrote:
On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 09:42:51 -0700, Burma Action Group wrote: If I'd pulled the quote out of context, you or others would attack me for selectively posting. Ill atack you for posting this **** in the first place. This is a travel group not a Burmese propogabda group Nice to hear from the biggest buffoon in the newsgroup. You might recall that the post you object to had timely information on the value of FECs, which was directly related to a poster's original question. The point: FECs in Burma have declined substantially in value in recent weeks. I'll leave it there, and await your usual irrelevant, unsupported nonsense, since you seem unable to ever allow another poster to have the last word. Had your rabies shots lately? If you wipe the spittle off your computer screen you might see more clearly. Sheesh. He cant, theyll interfere with his hormone injections Dunkley said he received financial "support" from Japan's Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a non-government organization, but did not elaborate. Then I do: Sasakawa is a notorious right-extremist, fascist of the worst sort, also a war criminal of WW2. Editor's note: The Sasakawa Peace Foundation is controlled by Japanese businesses that operate in direct partnerships with Burma's ruling generals. BAG They cooperate with all kind of disgusting dictatorships. It is indeed interesting what kind of "reliable" sources the Burma Action Group has. Whatever that's supposed to mean... At least we agree on Sasakawa... So lets agree that you stop posting US based and biased propaganda eh ? In other words **** off - In the beginning there was nothing........which exploded ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BURMA ACTION GROUP SAO Box 119, HUB University of Washington http://students.washington.edu/burma/ Seattle, WA 98195 |
#10
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Myanmar / Burma FEC question
On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 01:11:23 +1200, Phelan
wrote: from memory you are meant to buy it at the air port - I bribed someone there so I didn't have to buy it. I think it cost US$10 slipped in my passport. The first time I had ever bribed someone ! coming from NZ which is the 2nd least corrupt country in the world, this was a novel experience... smile while you do it too ! Just curious--what is the world's least corrupt country? Switzerland? |
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