Thread: Maybe soon to be 'persona non grata' in Myanmar

In a place like Burma (or many other countries) which is possibly not to friendly to outsiders and is still largely controlled by the military it is probably a good idea to keep your head down and avoid coming to the attention of authority if you want to stay out of trouble and the wrong side of a cell.

However you have made your bed now so I hope it turns out well for you.

Can second that this is a very friendly place- the welcome at immigration at Mandalay Airport is a world away from the coldness of Swampy.Allegedly some doltish expat did get involved in politics and almost got my workplace shut down. As with anywhere in the world, act nice and polite and you'll probably be treated alright.

the welcome at immigration at Mandalay Airport is a world away from the coldness of Swampy.

LoL, that's because last year I was responsible for teaching English to the airport staff! I made sure they were fluent in saying 'Hallo old bean, very nice to see you again what! Do you have time for a nice cup of tea and biscuits?'

Originally Posted by Simon43

the welcome at immigration at Mandalay Airport is a world away from the coldness of Swampy.

LoL, that's because last year I was responsible for teaching English to the airport staff! I made sure they were fluent in saying 'Hallo old bean, very nice to see you again what! Do you have time for a nice cup of tea and biscuits?'

I actually believe that .

Originally Posted by Neverna

Perhaps they doubt your intentions ....

Perhaps they've read about his hotel building in Thailand and seen the aerials he's littering Asia with.

When I had a problem like that in a certain Gulf country, I just phoned up an Undersecretary's office at the Ministry of "Information" (who handled these things) and asked for an appointment. They called me an hour later and asked me to come that afternoon.

I sat down and had a cup of that disgusting cardamom tea and a biscuit with the bloke, exchanged a few jokes and he simply scribbled a note in Arabic on the paperwork and told me to take it to the Licensing office.

They were falling over each other to help me at that point.

Sometimes the carrot is better than the stick.

When I had a problem like that in a certain Gulf country, I just phoned up an Undersecretary's office at the Ministry of "Information" (who handled these things) and asked for an appointment. They called me an hour later and asked me to come that afternoon.

I sat down and had a cup of that disgusting cardamom tea and a biscuit with the bloke, exchanged a few jokes and he simply scribbled a note in Arabic on the paperwork and told me to take it to the Licensing office.

They were falling over each other to help me at that point.

Sometimes the carrot is better than the stick.

I have been trying 'the carrot' for the past 6 years.

It hasn't worked.

My problem is that I know (by his own admission), that the guy who is responsible for the licence issue is too scared to do this, but will happily do it if ordered by someone of higher authority than him.

So my route has been to try to foster good relations with senior people in Myanmar, such as the Chief of Police etc, who can then instruct this guy to issue the licence.

Oh - no-one from any Ministry will agree to meet me I've already tried.

This is an ongoing 'project'. To be quite honest, it is fcuking frustrating, especially when I'm actually trying to help the country. I never had these problems in Thailand.

So HB, if you have the ear of any Myanmar government ministers, can you put in a good word for me?

Originally Posted by Simon43

the welcome at immigration at Mandalay Airport is a world away from the coldness of Swampy.

LoL, that's because last year I was responsible for teaching English to the airport staff! I made sure they were fluent in saying 'Hallo old bean, very nice to see you again what! Do you have time for a nice cup of tea and biscuits?'

Jolly good show, we can't have Commonwealthers speaking merkin, now can we?

Jolly good show, we can't have Commonwealthers speaking merkin, now can we?

It was frightfully spiffing fun.

I taught a range of staff, from the immigration personnel, to the cafe staff, left luggage and cleaning ladies. As with all Myanmar students, they were amazingly polite, respectful and friendly.

Wot ho bertie

Good luck with it Simon.
Just a couple of questions, what would be the repercussions if you were caught transmitting without a license?
And as long as you were not transmitting anything too' politically edgy ', or were interfering with emergency services transmissions, would anyone care?

I've not got an agenda, just interested.

Just a couple of questions, what would be the repercussions if you were caught transmitting without a license?
And as long as you were not transmitting anything too' politically edgy ', or were interfering with emergency services transmissions, would anyone care?

OK, remember that I'm not talking about a radio station that broadcasts speech, music etc. This is ham radio. So it could be morse code (I'm very slow at morse!), or voice chat about technical matters etc. Hams can only talk about not political, non religious, non-business matters, (er.. which is why it can be rather boring at times!).

If I transmit without a ham licence, then I will definitely be arrested and probably fined and deported. So it's not worth the risk. Additionally, in order for other hams across the world to be chat with me, they need to know that I am legally transmitting and not a pirate.

This is initially done by submitting my Myanmar ham licence to a public database that all hams have access to, and can check to confirm my legality, location, equipment used blah blah blah.

I don't usually do a great deal of chatting. I use my ham licence so that I can legally develop radio comms equipment, typically for emergency use. So think, small-size, solar-powered transceivers etc.

Maybe you should print this out and show it to them.


Radio Volunteers a Key Component of Public Safety

Maybe you should print this out and show it to them.
Radio Volunteers a Key Component of Public Safety

Thanks very much for your suggestions.

Over the past 6 years, I have sent them (by registered post), copies of documents like this.

I have sent them links to Youtube videos about this.

I have even made my own YT videos about ham radio and specifically how it could benefit Myanmar.

All of these... in one ear and out t'other!

But in the past day, I have been contacted by a senior Myanmar person who read my appeal and has promised to try to help. so I hope that maybe, just maybe, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Originally Posted by Simon43

Maybe you should print this out and show it to them.
Radio Volunteers a Key Component of Public Safety

Thanks very much for your suggestions.

Over the past 6 years, I have sent them (by registered post), copies of documents like this.

I have sent them links to Youtube videos about this.

I have even made my own YT videos about ham radio and specifically how it could benefit Myanmar.

All of these... in one ear and out t'other!

But in the past day, I have been contacted by a senior Myanmar person who read my appeal and has promised to try to help. so I hope that maybe, just maybe, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Another option would be to write to your ambassador (if there is one) and ask him to refer it to their foreign ministry.

When I had a bit of bother with Phuket Customs trying to charge me Bt300K (fucking tea money, presumably) to bring in kids toys for tsunami orphans, the Thai foreign ministry put a rocket up their arses and I was greeted like a VIP and the bill reduced by 99%.

Originally Posted by Simon43

So think, small-size, solar-powered transceivers etc.

Which could also be used for nefarious reasons?

But in the past day, I have been contacted by a senior Myanmar person who read my appeal and has promised to try to help

Or send around some guys in large boots.

So think, small-size, solar-powered transceivers etc.
Which could also be used for nefarious reasons?

Nope - that is so 1960's!

Nowadays, nefarious means Facebook, Twitter etc etc.

Or send around some guys in large boots.

That's OK, I used the postal address of a guy that I don't like....