A travel agent has been banned from leaving the country, even for medical reasons, after criticizing Myanmar’s education system on a trip overseas.
U Aye Kyaw, the director of local travel company Ruby Land Travel, told the Myanmar Times he was blacklisted by the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism because of a remark he made at a conference in Indonesia.
Immigration officials informed him of the indefinite ban when he turned up at the airport on September 5, expecting to travel to India.
“I have never broken the law – there is no legal reason to stop me traveling,” he told the Times. “Normally I arrange a medical check-up in Bangkok to follow-up a heart attack, but now I can’t go anywhere.”
A few months earlier, in June, U Aye Kyaw was part of a Myanmar delegation – including government officials – that traveled to Indonesia to take part in a hospitality training program.
When asked why he attended the management and training conference he said: “Our education system is weak… We need a good education system because education is the most important way to improve the country.”
In response, he was dismissed from the executive committee of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA) and then – according to the immigration department – issued with a travel ban from the tourism ministry.
U Kyaw Swe Myint, department chief officer, said U Aye Kyaw would be allowed to leave the country when the tourism ministry withdrew their request.
The tourism ministry, however, denies issuing a ban.
“I’m sure our department didn’t request a rejection,” said director general U Tint Thin. “We requested the UMTA take action against him to serve as an example for the next generation because we have duty to prevent any unnecessary trouble.”
Human rights lawyer U Robert Sann called the ban “reminiscent of the military dictatorship”, according to the Times.
“This shouldn’t happen nowadays… It is not fair. It’s a violation of his human rights. Everybody can share and express their opinion.”
Photo / Ruby Land Travel
