Hundreds Of Foreigners Stuck On The Closed Myanmar Border

[rcav8r]

shouldn't the border be closed the other way....? Burma is in the longest running civil war in history, after all.

Why ? Who but those skint visa runner day trippers mentioned previously in this thread would want to go there ?

[rcav8r]

I wouldn't call the Myanmar situation a civil war. They have a Military run government, can't fight them with stones and sticks.

Have you never heard of the Hmong Liberation Army - armed - who occupied and "ran" the border area contiguous with Thailand in the Three Chedis Pass area of Kanchanaburi ? Very friendly and welcoming to farang visitors from Thailand at the time.

The Burmese people are great - too true - miserable but great !

I wouldn't call it a "military run government" - let's call it what it really is - a hard line military dictatorship.

[Scott]

Way too much complacency here. I've been in a number of countries when they have closed the border, leaving a lot of people in a bad situation. I mean not long ago Lebanon, which was beginning to look like a good place to go, got into a big mess and it took the military of different countries and the UN to get people out.

Myanmar, is under military control, as is Thailand at the current time. Don't travel places without money and resources. You just never know for sure what is going to happen. Also, remember you aren't a citizen of that country or the one your trying to get into--so basically neither of them care about you.

My thoughts are with the people who are standed. They are truly caught in a difficult situation.

[sting01]

shouldn't the border be closed the other way....? Burma is in the longest running civil war in history, after all.

Why ? Who but those skint visa runner day trippers mentioned previously in this thread would want to go there ?

Sorry , but as non english speaking person I am unsure about the meaning of SKINT. IS it similar to TRAMP or BEGGAR? Am I right?

If yes, and as a border runner since 5 years, I felt offended.

So , allow me to ask you some questions:

1) do you live in thailand? And if yes what are the reasons of you stay here? I do live in Thailand, because the cost of the life allow me to compete with Indians and Chinese in my field (IT).

2) Do you provide a net income of foriegn currency to this country but the simple fact of your presence (mean noone but you can provide this net income)? I do, because the clients I had in France are those I have here, and they will still be my clients when I will go somewhere else. The fact to be in Thailand have only changed their status from extra income to main income.

3) If you live in Thailand, do you have a legal bank account in a thai bank? Important question because legally a tourist is not allowed to have a bank account, in my case I have a bank account in SCB since 2002.

4) In case you already have a bank account, do you have also a Thai credit card? Important question, because it's not that easy to get one ... I know because I had to wait one month after I applied in 2003 to get mine, and so yes I have thai CC.

5) As you are not a member of the skint association of the visa runner, I do suppose you are a legal long stayer and by so pay regulary taxes to the thai governement. Do you? Because in my case I do.

So , even if I am a visa runner since 2002, I do not feel to be a skint or a scumbag. I am simply in a category that does not exist in the thai law, and by so I am not able to apply for any visa other than the tourist one (60 days + 30 in prolongation) or the VOA. Due the fact I can not be far of my work for more than some few hours, the only option for me is the VOA (go to border, checkout, enter in a neiborought country,check out, check in in thai border and come back to bangkok just in time time to say good morning to my floridian client.

So please be mesured in your words, or you will make a fool of yourself.

P.S. In my case, applying for a non B would be a scam, as I am not looking for employment (I am self employed), raising artificially my incomes to be able to pay to my self a pseudo salary would be also a scam. Maybe I am a fool me too, but I prefered to stand by the law. The VOA was a way to stay here that existed before I came here, and I always documented (even if there is no requiment to do so) when I was at the border the reasons why I wished to came back in bangkok : not to visit Nana temples, but simply make some money to enter in the country.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The times they are changin'

[rak sa_ngop]

Can anybody confirm that Laotian border comment... or is that just bullshit....?

L

The Nong Khai - Vientiane Laos border crossing was definitely open on the 20th, immediately after the coup, so should still be OK.

[fruittbatt]

It seems very strange that there has been no mobile communication from the visa runners - especially if they number in the hundreds...or does the Myanmar military have some way of stopping the calls from 100metres inside the country?

Edited September 22, 2006 by fruittbatt

[tinglish]

shouldn't the border be closed the other way....? Burma is in the longest running civil war in history, after all.

Why ? Who but those skint visa runner day trippers mentioned previously in this thread would want to go there ?

Sorry , but as non english speaking person I am unsure about the meaning of SKINT. IS it similar to TRAMP or BEGGAR? Am I right?

If yes, and as a border runner since 5 years, I felt offended.

Don't be offended mate, 'skint' just means broke, no money. Those comments were made by some pompous ass for sure, but not designed to offend. If anybody, it's the Burmese who should feel slighted.

[easy_jim]

How can hundreds of visa runners be stuck in Myanmar? It doesn't make sense. Most visa runners do not get off the boat for more than five minutes.

They are saying that Myanmar closed the border and at that second there were hundreds of visa runners who had just stamped into Myamar but they would not let them stamp out again? I don't think so. I guess there are those who went to the casino but that cannot be hundreds.

Surely it is more likely that the people stuck include Thais and people who have been travelling across Myanmar and now want to come to Thailand.

[svenivan]

I son't know how it is down in Ranong but the border was closed here in Mae Sai Wednesday and Thursday (don't know about today).

And when the border is closed noone can pass the border so noone can get over to Myanmar and get stuck there. If they were there overnight, OK, then they have to wait.

Here everyone need to show 10 000 bath going back to Thailand (if you have more than onemonth visa you show 20 000 bath)0 so probably they will not be without money on the other side.

[Pi Sua]

Hi,

The border at Maesot is closed. I went there an hour ago. The immigration said to me that there was no information about how long it would remain like that.

Good luck to everyone.

[phuketrichard]

are all you all thick or what??

If the border between Thailand and Burma is closed you would not be able to get INTO Burma...

So that means all those stuck and had hoped to get in and out on the day their visas are up are now OVER their dates and subject to fines.

Head to malaysia if your in the south and be carefull travelling thru Hat yai.

I hope those stuck in Burma (Myanmar) have deep pockets. It could be some time before the authorities reopen the border crossing point.

Two weeks before the appointment of a 'Prime Minister'??

[Ed.Lee]

Firstly prayers for all who are stuck.

I have done border runs alot, thankfully that has changed now but one thing is for sure, even when I was skint I would get (10,000 bath) *smile that they ask for when you return to thailand. I have even loaned it to someone in the queue behind me when crossing over again, a stranger not a firend.

Hopefully folks that are stuck will pitch in together, helping those who maybe didn't go prepared for the border toll.

[Ulysses G.]

Here everyone need to show 10 000 bath going back to Thailand (if you have more than onemonth visa you show 20 000 bath)0 so probably they will not be without money on the other side.

The latest rumour is that Thai officials won't let anyone back in who spent their 10,000 baht in Burma. You have to have exactly 10,000 baht to get back in!

[fruittbatt]

It does seem unlikely that hundreds of runners would have been stamped into Burma only to find the re-entry gate slammed in their faces. Perhaps this is part of the new Myanmar initiative to "encourage" (enforce) tourism?

Edited September 22, 2006 by fruittbatt

[astral]

A very good example of why visa runs are not a good idea...........

[BlueSmurf]

Hundreds of foreigners stuck on the closed Myanmar border

PHUKET CITY: -- An Immigration officer based in Ranong confirmed by telephone this morning that it is still impossible to make “visa runs” to the Burmese port town of Kaw Thaung, across the bay from Ranong.

The officer, who said he had no idea when the border would reopen, suggested visa runners whose permits-to-stay are set to expire consider using crossings along the borders with Malaysia, Cambodia or Laos instead.

He recommended first checking with the foreign affairs ministries of those countries before starting out, however.

“It is beyond our authority whether Immigration officials in neighboring countries choose to close border checkpoints,” he warned.

A few hundred foreign tourists remain stuck on the Myanmar side of the border since the checkpoint closure, he added.

ADVICE TO THOSE STUCK IN BURMA.............Walk along the road towards the casino and cross the river back. GO STRAIGHT TO IMMERGRATION AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU DID.....YOU SHOULD'NT GET SHOT!!!! LETS HOPE ITS OPEN TODAY!!!!!! BETTER ADVICE TO OVERSTAYERS PAY THE 500 BAHT A DAY FINE AND STAY HERE !!!!!

WHAT A HOLE TO BE STUCK IN IF YOU DON'T KNOW YOUR WAY AROUND OR HAVE NO DOSH.......

Myint Than, operator at the Andaman Club resort and casino complex on Thahtay Kyun Island in Myanmar, also opposite Ranong, this afternoon confirmed that the border checkpoint there remains closed.

“We don’t know when it will re-open,” she told the Gazette.

--Phuket Gazette 2006-09-21

[greg48000]

Can anybody confirm that Laotian border comment... or is that just bullshit....?

L

Info as at 10am today the border crossings into Laos remain open. Thakhek, and Mukdahan. Not sure about the bridge at vientiane.

Just head east .......... not north!

[sinkorswim]

You would have to stay at the government sanctioned Honey Bee Hotel. Overpriced about 5 times what you would pay for a similar hotel in Thailand.

I reckon I would go overland to Rangoon. Burma is quiet tourist friendly these days. Feel sorry for those border runners that do the trip with 300b in their pocket. No ATMs.

Who in the right mind crosses ANY border with just 300 baht spare to their name !!

Surely these are the guys Thailand are trying to offload ??

Chivas

back packers, teachers and everyone who has been taking the PXSS staying here on 30 day visas for too long.

Sorry to be brutal as I do feel for these people but what did they expect????

Edited September 22, 2006 by sinkorswim

[sinkorswim]

Sorry , but as non english speaking person I am unsure about the meaning of SKINT. IS it similar to TRAMP or BEGGAR? Am I right?

If yes, and as a border runner since 5 years, I felt offended.

So , allow me to ask you some questions:

1) do you live in thailand? And if yes what are the reasons of you stay here? I do live in Thailand, because the cost of the life allow me to compete with Indians and Chinese in my field (IT).

2) Do you provide a net income of foriegn currency to this country but the simple fact of your presence (mean noone but you can provide this net income)? I do, because the clients I had in France are those I have here, and they will still be my clients when I will go somewhere else. The fact to be in Thailand have only changed their status from extra income to main income.

so when are you leaving thailand seems so you are too cheap to pay taxes?

3) If you live in Thailand, do you have a legal bank account in a thai bank? Important question because legally a tourist is not allowed to have a bank account, in my case I have a bank account in SCB since 2002.

4) In case you already have a bank account, do you have also a Thai credit card? Important question, because it's not that easy to get one ... I know because I had to wait one month after I applied in 2003 to get mine, and so yes I have thai CC.

you must be so proud

5) As you are not a member of the skint association of the visa runner, I do suppose you are a legal long stayer and by so pay regulary taxes to the thai governement. Do you? Because in my case I do.

How can you pay taxes if you do not have a work permit and non B visa?

So , even if I am a visa runner since 2002, I do not feel to be a skint or a scumbag. I am simply in a category that does not exist in the thai law, and by so I am not able to apply for any visa other than the tourist one (60 days + 30 in prolongation) or the VOA. Due the fact I can not be far of my work for more than some few hours, the only option for me is the VOA (go to border, checkout, enter in a neiborought country,check out, check in in thai border and come back to bangkok just in time time to say good morning to my floridian client.

So please be mesured in your words, or you will make a fool of yourself.

P.S. In my case, applying for a non B would be a scam, as I am not looking for employment (I am self employed), raising artificially my incomes to be able to pay to my self a pseudo salary would be also a scam. Maybe I am a fool me too, but I prefered to stand by the law. The VOA was a way to stay here that existed before I came here, and I always documented (even if there is no requiment to do so) when I was at the border the reasons why I wished to came back in bangkok : not to visit Nana temples, but simply make some money to enter in the country.

so you make less than 50000baht per month? That i the amount a falang has to earn to recieve a work permit. Maybe less for the french not sure.

QUOTE So please be mesured in your words, or you will make a fool of yourself.

Maybe you should take your own advice. By your own admition you have been working illegally for 5 years and not paid any taxes.

You have given the most feeble excuse for tax evasion. Do you really think you will get sympathy. Pay taxes and then you have no problems.

Get a non b visa and work permit and pay your taxes. If you cannot afford to do that then go home. This is exactly the sort of people that are now stuck there. While they have my sympathy what the hel_l did people like you expect.

See my reply above incase you need clarification. I personally always took my 20000baht with me when I did the visa run every 90 days but the amount of people who looked like they did not have 10 baht was amazing.

Sorry about the rant but this is exactly why people are in a bad situation now because they do not follow the rules and when the Thais (fully aware this situation is because of the Burma side) decide to enforce the rule you wonder why......we are guests in there country and if they say jump the correct responce is how high? not why?

Edited September 22, 2006 by sinkorswim

[terry57]

You would have to stay at the government sanctioned Honey Bee Hotel. Overpriced about 5 times what you would pay for a similar hotel in Thailand.

I reckon I would go overland to Rangoon. Burma is quiet tourist friendly these days. Feel sorry for those border runners that do the trip with 300b in their pocket. No ATMs.

Who in the right mind crosses ANY border with just 300 baht spare to their name !!

Surely these are the guys Thailand are trying to offload ??

Chivas

back packers, teachers and everyone who has been taking the PXSS staying here on 30 day visas for too long.

Sorry to be brutal as I do feel for these people but what did they expect????

unfortunately this is a fact because this is how it has evolved over the years and the party has been cracking for a long time.

the government has shut down the party, its time to get sober and realise that you have had an awesome go it.

its been long over due.

after all punters,

how many other counties would let it go on for so long ?

maybe places that dont have half of what los has to offer to us people maybe.

balls in your court people so get to work on out a solution and stop whinging.

cheers

[pascharay]

what I really like is the better than thou attitudes by those people one step above being a loser.

Try to stop being such a buzzkill

[tracer0]

Closed by Myanmar because of the coup, I belive. Hope you visa runners will be able to sort yourselves out without too many problems. Thank Christ I went last week!

Yes, but why, in particular, is the crossing closed only to Myanmar and not to other countries bordering Thailand?

Why would Myanmar alone want to close the border?

I thought that the casino is owned by Taksin....

[sting01]

Sorry , but as non english speaking person I am unsure about the meaning of SKINT. IS it similar to TRAMP or BEGGAR? Am I right?

If yes, and as a border runner since 5 years, I felt offended.

So , allow me to ask you some questions:

1) do you live in thailand? And if yes what are the reasons of you stay here? I do live in Thailand, because the cost of the life allow me to compete with Indians and Chinese in my field (IT).

2) Do you provide a net income of foriegn currency to this country but the simple fact of your presence (mean noone but you can provide this net income)? I do, because the clients I had in France are those I have here, and they will still be my clients when I will go somewhere else. The fact to be in Thailand have only changed their status from extra income to main income.

so when are you leaving thailand seems so you are too cheap to pay taxes?

3) If you live in Thailand, do you have a legal bank account in a thai bank? Important question because legally a tourist is not allowed to have a bank account, in my case I have a bank account in SCB since 2002.

4) In case you already have a bank account, do you have also a Thai credit card? Important question, because it's not that easy to get one ... I know because I had to wait one month after I applied in 2003 to get mine, and so yes I have thai CC.

you must be so proud

5) As you are not a member of the skint association of the visa runner, I do suppose you are a legal long stayer and by so pay regulary taxes to the thai governement. Do you? Because in my case I do.

How can you pay taxes if you do not have a work permit and non B visa?

So , even if I am a visa runner since 2002, I do not feel to be a skint or a scumbag. I am simply in a category that does not exist in the thai law, and by so I am not able to apply for any visa other than the tourist one (60 days + 30 in prolongation) or the VOA. Due the fact I can not be far of my work for more than some few hours, the only option for me is the VOA (go to border, checkout, enter in a neiborought country,check out, check in in thai border and come back to bangkok just in time time to say good morning to my floridian client.

So please be mesured in your words, or you will make a fool of yourself.

P.S. In my case, applying for a non B would be a scam, as I am not looking for employment (I am self employed), raising artificially my incomes to be able to pay to my self a pseudo salary would be also a scam. Maybe I am a fool me too, but I prefered to stand by the law. The VOA was a way to stay here that existed before I came here, and I always documented (even if there is no requiment to do so) when I was at the border the reasons why I wished to came back in bangkok : not to visit Nana temples, but simply make some money to enter in the country.

so you make less than 50000baht per month? That i the amount a falang has to earn to recieve a work permit. Maybe less for the french not sure.

QUOTE So please be mesured in your words, or you will make a fool of yourself.

Maybe you should take your own advice. By your own admition you have been working illegally for 5 years and not paid any taxes.

You have given the most feeble excuse for tax evasion. Do you really think you will get sympathy. Pay taxes and then you have no problems.

Get a non b visa and work permit and pay your taxes. If you cannot afford to do that then go home. This is exactly the sort of people that are now stuck there. While they have my sympathy what the hel_l did people like you expect.

See my reply above incase you need clarification. I personally always took my 20000baht with me when I did the visa run every 90 days but the amount of people who looked like they did not have 10 baht was amazing.

Sorry about the rant but this is exactly why people are in a bad situation now because they do not follow the rules and when the Thais (fully aware this situation is because of the Burma side) decide to enforce the rule you wonder why......we are guests in there country and if they say jump the correct responce is how high? not why?

I do pay taxes, Lamluka Taxe office, and that since november 2002.

I am proud to have a thai CC, the forum is full of people crying because they were turning down in their local bank branch , even to apply for a saving account. Not my case. Just go yourself to your local bank, and ask for a thai CC or simply ask them to tell you the rules to have a thai CC (I do agree it's a useless piece of plastic used only to pay Big C or Lotus, but the rules to have it are clear and simple : no tourist can have it, and there is also a minimum amount -150 000 bht in my time can have changed- ... as I am not bragging I precise my bank is SCB Tong Lohr). I am proud not because I have a CC, but because I was entitled to apply for and I get it. In my brain (I can be wrong) it always make a difference with those pretending and those being. It also always eased relation with thai people : have a thai CC mean you do have a reason to be here that is not the bargirls ,nor the beer, nor the night life.

Why do I pay taxes and do not have a WP? As yo usaid I earn less than 60 000 bht per month, and by so my WP was denied. On the other hand, as legally I am not bound to pay taxes (I do outsourcing work for US companies, I am not selling any goods and by so not bound to any taxes here), the simple fact to state I considered fair and honest for me to pay taxes and doing so since end of 2002 have certainly ease my situation (amongst the documents I show to the border are my registration in the taxe office with the receipt of the payments).

I always follow the rules, and when I do not know the rules, I ask the people who should know. I am not stuck here, I am leaving because I am well aware the rules have changed and what was true yesterday will be untrue tomorrow.

What make me sick is the way some people here take to judge others. I do not decide who is a legal or non legal stayers, but the thai administration do. If the thai administration assume someone like me, a low life person, is usefull for a time to the country, you do not have to judge. The day they decide I am not usefull I have to agree and leave by myself (that what I am doing within 90 days). But at the end, in 2015 we will see who will be in thailand, me with my low life profile (if my supposition to be able to come back is true), or you with your supposed higher profile (if my supposition the rules on the condo owners andretired person will changes too is true). Anyway a high profile person like you will certainly move to Monaco or French Riviera, if yes feel free to contact me, I do own a 2 rooms appartment Garibaldi street in Monaco, and 2 houses in Frejus (var). Downfall the houses are located at 4 kn of the sea but the bus are often and of good quality. So simply do not assume that much about the 30 days VOA runners.

[fruittbatt]

Back to the topic:

I find it incredible that "hundreds" of visa-runners are allegedly stuck in Myanmar - yet no-one has heard a peep from them...or does someone out there know something definite after all?

Edited September 22, 2006 by fruittbatt

[pascharay]

I agree with 100%

maybe Choscura should elect himself to the throne of best farang in the uuniverse, sicne he is obviously lviign a life without sin. Never drives too fast. Never swears. Nver breaks any of the commandments. If only I could be so holy then I would be a better person.

[george]

Please stay on topic.

Thanks!

/Admin

[Ijustwannateach]

There are all kinds of legitimate reasons why people might have been at the immigration point, and even if they have plenty of money they may not have convenient access to it. I don't see much point in gloating over their predicament. Surely it's not the attitude we would hope others would take if we were in similar trouble? I hope things sort themselves out to the point where both border posts realise they need to keep the traffic moving. The last thing Myanmar OR Thailand needs is a new refugee camp along the border- of farang!

"Steven"

[sinkorswim]

I do pay taxes, Lamluka Taxe office, and that since november 2002.

I am proud to have a thai CC, the forum is full of people crying because they were turning down in their local bank branch , even to apply for a saving account. Not my case. Just go yourself to your local bank, and ask for a thai CC or simply ask them to tell you the rules to have a thai CC (I do agree it's a useless piece of plastic used only to pay Big C or Lotus, but the rules to have it are clear and simple : no tourist can have it, and there is also a minimum amount -150 000 bht in my time can have changed- ... as I am not bragging I precise my bank is SCB Tong Lohr). I am proud not because I have a CC, but because I was entitled to apply for and I get it. In my brain (I can be wrong) it always make a difference with those pretending and those being. It also always eased relation with thai people : have a thai CC mean you do have a reason to be here that is not the bargirls ,nor the beer, nor the night life.

Why do I pay taxes and do not have a WP? As yo usaid I earn less than 60 000 bht per month, and by so my WP was denied. On the other hand, as legally I am not bound to pay taxes (I do outsourcing work for US companies, I am not selling any goods and by so not bound to any taxes here), the simple fact to state I considered fair and honest for me to pay taxes and doing so since end of 2002 have certainly ease my situation (amongst the documents I show to the border are my registration in the taxe office with the receipt of the payments).

I always follow the rules, and when I do not know the rules, I ask the people who should know. I am not stuck here, I am leaving because I am well aware the rules have changed and what was true yesterday will be untrue tomorrow.

What make me sick is the way some people here take to judge others. I do not decide who is a legal or non legal stayers, but the thai administration do. If the thai administration assume someone like me, a low life person, is usefull for a time to the country, you do not have to judge. The day they decide I am not usefull I have to agree and leave by myself (that what I am doing within 90 days). But at the end, in 2015 we will see who will be in thailand, me with my low life profile (if my supposition to be able to come back is true), or you with your supposed higher profile (if my supposition the rules on the condo owners andretired person will changes too is true). Anyway a high profile person like you will certainly move to Monaco or French Riviera, if yes feel free to contact me, I do own a 2 rooms appartment Garibaldi street in Monaco, and 2 houses in Frejus (var). Downfall the houses are located at 4 kn of the sea but the bus are often and of good quality. So simply do not assume that much about the 30 days VOA runners.

whatever. so what will you do next month when you are refused re-entry on your VOA. I am not retired and do not have a investment visa but if the rules change against me I can move anywhere I wish.

I still do not believe you pay taxes without a work permit. Impossible as far as my thinking but I maybe wrong . Your post is full of contridictions that is why I pulled you on them. I really did not wish any offence or hard feelings as I do feel for these people stuck there but many of them only have themselves to blame.

I dont think I am perfect but I am not far off

Back to the topic can anyone tell me if other borders are closed as my friend went to Vietnne and I have not herd from him.

[barrelhead]

.....First....there is NO ATM at Club Andaman! You'll have to use the ATM at the Immigration check point at the pier before entering into Myanmar/Club Andaman!....Second.....In regards to the immigration law any foreigner entering Thailand on a 30 days visa on arrival has to prove they're able to support themselves for 30 days!! In other words you will need to carry minimum 10,000 Baht in your wallet! Credit card and bank books are not accepted as evidence! If the immigration check on you and you're not available to show more than 300 Baht you will not be allowed to enter Thailand!! So those of you who do visa runs with only 300 bananas in your pocket do actually risk to get refused entry into LOS!! Edited September 22, 2006 by barrelhead