Relatives of Myanmar civil servants restricted from travelling abroad

A woman holds her passport as she waits outside the Myanmar embassy in Singapore on October 15, 2015, to vote (Photo: EPA) — epa04977934 A Burmese woman checks her documents while holding her passport as she waits in line to cast her vote outside the Myanmar Embassy building in Singapore, 15 October 2015. Over 20,000 Myanmar nationals living in Singapore will cast their vote ahead of the country's general elections, which has been announced to take place on 08 November 2015. EPA/WALLACE WOON

Myanmar’s military regime has stopped allowing the spouses and children of public employees to hold passports or leave the country, according to a junta order seen by Myanmar Now.

The order states that close relatives of civil servants must obtain special permission to travel abroad for any reason, including for education and medical treatment.

However, regime sources say the order, which has been in force since June, does not apply to the parents or siblings of public employees.

The junta has previously implemented policies restricting foreign travel for civil servants and for armed forces personnel and their families, but this is the first time that the ban has been extended to include relatives of civilian personnel.

To get permission to travel abroad, family members of civil servants must first obtain an endorsement from their respective departmental heads and junta-appointed union ministers, the order said. Their requests will then. . .