Yangon can be a tricky place to travel as a lady. Groping and harassment make public buses a daily ordeal for many locals.
For foreign tourists, the city has long had a reputation for comparative safety.
But on Thursday the US embassy issued an alert to its citizens warning of recent reports of male taxi drivers committing crimes against women.
The crimes have ranged from indecent exposure to attempted sexual assault.
Bahan Township police told the Myanmar Times that an American woman recently reported an incident after taking a taxi home from a bar in the area.
It’s your textbook nightmare.
The woman reported falling asleep in the vehicle and waking up in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of town where the driver allegedly tried to sexually assault her.
In its warning (which also stressed that the country “continues to be a safe country to visit”), the embassy gave a list of security measures to take. Here it is:
1. Avoid unmarked vehicles: Always use a registered taxi (you can often identify these by their red license plates).
2. Do not share taxis with strangers: Never board a taxi with strangers or allow a taxi driver to pick up additional passengers.
3. Sit behind the driver: Sit directly behind the driver to limit the physical proximity between you and the driver and make it more difficult for the driver to reach you. This also gives you easy access to both doors in case you need to exit the vehicle quickly.
4. Take note of identifying information: Document the license plate or registration number located on the side of the doors prior to entering the vehicle. Not only will this prove to be extremely valuable in the event of an incident but may also deter the driver if he sees you taking note.
5. Limit your travel alone: Try to limit how often you travel alone, especially at night or if you have been drinking.
6. Trust your instincts: If something does not seem right, it probably is not. Take the first opportunity to exit the vehicle.”
Photo/Wikicommons
