bust Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 As far as I know it is still illegal to possess foreign currency in Burma as a Burmese citizen. http://www.irrawaddy.org/aviewer.asp?a=6474&z=154 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian2 Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Yet they've done it in Tachilek for years, I go there three or four times a year and wouldn't know a Kyat from a Transylvanian Rumble. It's always been Baht for every purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rickfarang Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Sadly, these guys appear to have been skirting the law for years, and finally for some reason (maybe acting on a complaint), they have finally cracked down. In the long run, in this country, it doesn't pay to play any game that isn't on the straing and narrow. They just don't have that much of a sense of humor in cases like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 My Mrs told me she passed a Thai Army convoy of at least 20 trucks heading for the Burmese border up around Mae Hong Sorn today. Wonder what's happening. Also, the military is out on the roads again at night in parts of Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YimSiam Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Hmmm, extra trucks in MHS, soldiers up all night in Bangkok... Maybe the UWSA is running an end-of-year deal on yaa baa, trying to get excess merchandise off the books before Jan 1, and they're running it through MHS? arms for peace, YimSiam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YimSiam Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Let's see, they seized 2.7 million kyats... at today's black market rate, that comes out to, um, four dollars and twelve cents... I'm sure this crackdown has no real bite behind it, just like the occasional 'crackdowns' on Nana and Soi Cowboy - it's probably just a push by the gem dealers in Mae Sot to get the Burmese traders back into the stone market and out of cash. Stones are, after all, a relatively stable commodity, and it's just so much easier to stuff $10,000 worth of Mogok rubies up your ass to cross the border than, well, $10,000 actual dollars... Does this mean I can't use kyat at the Bai Fern anymore? Ah well, no worries... YimSiam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bust Posted December 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Most of the good Mogok rubies doesn't make it to Mae Sot as the traders don't want to take the risk of travelling through Karen State. In July this year the local police introduced a gem traders licence for all dealers whether they be local thai, day traders from Myawaddy IDP's or foreigners. There was a case in June where an American guy had all his purchases confiscated (rather large jade items) and was deported because he bought from an un-licenced dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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