Wai Moe
The Irrawaddy News
www.irrawaddy.com
January 18, 2008
The Burmese junta has tightened its visa rules on Western diplomats, their family members and NGO employees working in Burma, sources told The Irrawaddy on Friday.
The diplomatic community in Rangoon was taken by surprise when the regime failed to renew or extend visas for some staff and family members of Western embassies.
An official at a Western embassy said there have been unusually long delays in the visa process for some embassy staff, NGO workers and UN officials based in Burma.
A source familiar with the Rangoon-based embassies said the difficulties have impacted about 30 diplomats, officials and family members in recent weeks.
It was unclear at the present time, if the problems are the result of an official policy or just administration difficulties or confusion, sources said.
Diplomatic sources in Rangoon told The Irrawaddy that it is difficult to know how the Burmese authorities plan to handle visas and passports these days.
The Irrawaddy called the Burma Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Naypyidaw, but the official who answered said she could not comment on the issue.
Some western diplomats said people in Western embassies appear to have more difficulties than the average foreigner who lives and works in Burma.
Some sources speculated that since several Western countries have placed visa bans on Burmese officials, the military government may be playing the same game.
Others expressed concerns that if they left they country, they may not be allowed to return.
Earlier, the passports of two Burmese staff members at the US embassy in Rangoon were seized by authorities at the Rangoon International Airport when they returned from an overseas trip. The incident took place in December.
The US has been a vocal critic of the regime, calling for a meaningful democratic transition in the country and has increased economic sanctions on the regime since the bloody crackdown in September.
After the crackdown, the US imposed targeted sanctions on dozens of Burmese officials and businesses.
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