U.S. issues severe travel warning for this Asian country

The State Department has issued an updated travel warning for the country of Burma (Myanmar), warning that citizens should not travel there due to “civil unrest, armed conflict, and arbitrary enforcement of local laws.”

Burma currently has a level 4, “Do Not Travel,” warning. In the latest update, the department said travelers should reconsider going to the country due to limited or inadequate healthcare, areas with landmines and unexploded ordinances, and wrongful detentions.

There is a risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens by the current military regime in Burma, the State Department said. And the U.S. government is limited in its ability to provide emergency aid to its citizens there due to the ongoing armed conflict.

The situation is so serious, in fact, that U.S. government employees’ dependents under the age of 21 cannot reside in Burma with a parent assigned to work there.

The current military regime gained power in a coup d’état in February 2021 but protests and demonstrations against the government continue. The military usually responds to these protests by detaining individuals and the use of deadly force.

The regime arbitrarily enforces local laws, the warning says, and often detains people without a fair trial. Foreigners, the State Department warned, are not excluded from this practice.

Law enforcement in Burma might detain or deport U.S. citizens for speaking out or protesting against the regime, even on social media, the warning says.

Burma also has a military conscription law that has been enforced since April of this year. As a result, the regime could refuse to acknowledge anyone with dual U.S.-Burmese citizenship and conscript them into the military.

In addition, the State Department says Burma has limited and inadequate healthcare because of staffing shortages and that certain types of over-the-counter medicine as well as medical prescription, might not be available.

If you are planning to travel to Burma (Myanmar), the State Department recommends the following:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Embassy’s Consular Section on Facebook.
• Review the Country Security Report for Burma.
• Purchase travel medical insurance that covers Burma and includes medical evacuation.
• Do not touch unknown metal objects and avoid traveling off well-used roads, tracks, and paths.
• Keep your travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Make contingency plans to leave the country.
• Review local laws and conditions before traveling.
• Review the department’s website on Dual-Nationality.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return to the U.S. as originally planned.
• Develop a communication plan with your family or your employer or host organization.
• Erase any photos, comments, or other materials that could be considered controversial or provocative by local groups from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices before leaving.