Officials crack down on immigration breaches

Officials crack down on immigration breaches

By Khin Su Wai   |   Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Officials in Mandalay say they have been cracking down in recent months on foreign workers breaking immigration rules and regulations, citing several recent cases involving Chinese nationals.

The head of Mandalay Region's immigration department, U Thaung Zaw, said more education about immigration rules is also needed for both foreign and Myanmar nationals.

In April, about 20 Chinese people were deported through Mandalay International Airport after the government found they were running an illegal gold business in Hpakant, Kachin State, he said. In May three more cases involving Chinese nationals were reported. In one case, a man was found to have stayed overnight in a karaoke lounge, while another was jailed for fighting in Mandalay's jade market.

More recently, The Voice reported that police are searching for two Chinese men who allegedly stole a diamond and sapphire ring and diamond and jade necklace from a gem shop in Chan Aye Tharsan township on June 26.

"In most cases we put them on the black list and sent them back to China," U Thaung Zaw said.

The Chinese consulate inOfficials crack down on immigration breaches

By Khin Su Wai

OFFICIALS in Mandalay say they have been cracking down in recent months on foreign workers breaking immigration rules and regulations, citing several recent cases involving Chinese nationals.

The head of Mandalay Region's immigration department, U Thaung Zaw, said more education about immigration rules is also needed for both foreign and Myanmar nationals.

In April, about 20 Chinese people were deported through Mandalay International Airport after the government found they were running an illegal gold business in Hpakant, Kachin State, he said. In May three more cases involving Chinese nationals were reported. In one case, a man was found to have stayed overnight in a karaoke lounge, while another was jailed for fighting in Mandalay's jade market.

More recently, The Voice reported that police are searching for two Chinese men who allegedly stole a diamond and sapphire ring and diamond and jade necklace from a gem shop in Chan Aye Tharsan township on June 26.

"In most cases we put them on the black list and sent them back to China," U Thaung Zaw said.

The Chinese consulate in Mandalay declined to comment last week.

U Thaung Zaw said there are about 400 to 500 foreign nationals working in Mandalay Region, mostly in the mining and manufacturing sectors. About half are Chinese.

U Thaung Zaw said foreigners can stay only at licensed hotels and generally cannot stay at the home of a Myanmar national overnight. He said his department is working with hotels and tour guides to make sure they are aware of the immigration rules. As part of its efforts to improve knowledge about immigration rules, the department has siunce February been visiting each business in Mandalay that employs foreign workers to explain the rules.

He said people also need to be aware of areas of the country that foreigners are not allowed to enter.

"One of my acquaintances [a tour guide] got a six-month jail sentence for taking a foreigner to a restricted area in Dawei. The foreigner was put on the blacklist and sent back to his country," U Thaung Zaw said.

Ma Aye Mya, a long-time Mandalay resident, said she had recently been caught out by rules related to the granting of a visa on arrival at Mandalay airport.

"We know that Mandalay has an arrival visa, so my cousin invited a foreigner to come to Mandalay airport. But they didn't get the arrival visa so they had to buy a ticket back to Bangkok. The [immigration] officer said that there are arrival visas for specific countries but they have to have an invitation letter from an authorised [Myanmar] company," she said. Mandalay declined to comment last week.

U Thaung Zaw said there are about 400 to 500 foreign nationals working in Mandalay Region, mostly in the mining and manufacturing sectors. About half are Chinese.

U Thaung Zaw said foreigners can stay only at licensed hotels and generally cannot stay at the home of a Myanmar national overnight. He said his department is working with hotels and tour guides to make sure they are aware of the immigration rules. As part of its efforts to improve knowledge about immigration rules, the department has siunce February been visiting each business in Mandalay that employs foreign workers to explain the rules.

He said people also need to be aware of areas of the country that foreigners are not allowed to enter.

"One of my acquaintances [a tour guide] got a six-month jail sentence for taking a foreigner to a restricted area in Dawei. The foreigner was put on the blacklist and sent back to his country," U Thaung Zaw said.

Ma Aye Mya, a long-time Mandalay resident, said she had recently been caught out by rules related to the granting of a visa on arrival at Mandalay airport.

"We know that Mandalay has an arrival visa, so my cousin invited a foreigner to come to Mandalay airport. But they didn't get the arrival visa so they had to buy a ticket back to Bangkok. The [immigration] officer said that there are arrival visas for specific countries but they have to have an invitation letter from an authorised [Myanmar] company," she said.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/11/officials-crack-down-on-immigration-breaches/