Increased Security Forces in Rangoon

Date : June 19, 2008

Embassy of the United States of America
Rangoon, Burma
110 University Ave.
Kamayut Township
Rangoon

Tel:  (95-1) 536-509

Email: ConsularRangoo@state.gov
Website: http://burma.usembassy.gov

This warden message is to alert U.S. citizens traveling to and residing in Burma of increased security and riot police throughout Rangoon on June 19, 2008, which is the birthday of Aung San Su Kyi, a pro-democracy opposition party leader under house arrest.  As in the past, security forces are on alert for public gatherings at places of detention or imprisonment, monasteries, pagodas, political party offices, government offices, and the general Rangoon downtown area.  American citizens resident in Burma should avoid any gatherings, demonstrations, or processions, which could turn violent with little or no warning, as occurred in Fall 2007.  The Burmese Government has a standing ban of all gatherings of more than five people.  The Embassy also advises U.S. citizens not to photograph or film the military and police because doing so could be interpreted as provocative. 

We wish to remind U.S. citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  On June 19 at approximately 11:30 a.m., several peaceful demonstrators were reportedly beaten and detained by Burmese Government-sponsored thugs outside the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party headquarters.  U.S. citizens are therefore urged to exercise discretion when moving about and to avoid any large public gatherings, any visible military presence, and any area cordoned off by security forces.  For the latest security information, U.S. citizens living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, and Travel Warnings can be found.  Security information can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. To 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Burma are encouraged to register with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy.  Registration can be done on-line through the State Department’s travel registration website https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs, or via the Embassy’s website http://burma.usembassy.gov.  The Embassy is located at 110 University Ave, Kamayut Township, Rangoon.  The Embassy's phone numbers are (95-1) 536-509, 536-756, and 538-038.  The Consular Section’s extension is 4240, and email address is consularrangoo@state.gov.  The Embassy’s after-hours emergency numbers are the same as above, all followed by extension 4014.  The after-hours mobile phone number is 09-512-4330 (calling inside Burma) or 95-9-512-4330 (calling outside Burma).  The Embassy’s hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday (except U.S. federal and Burmese holidays).