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| Burmese government cuts a third of names from travel blacklist | Burmese government cuts a third of names from travel blacklist |
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| Burma's government has trimmed 2,082 names from its notorious blacklist, opening travelling privileges to roughly a third of the people officially barred from entering or leaving the country, an official said on Tuesday. | Burma's government has trimmed 2,082 names from its notorious blacklist, opening travelling privileges to roughly a third of the people officially barred from entering or leaving the country, an official said on Tuesday. |
| The move was the latest sign of change as President Thein Sein's government implements reforms after decades of harsh military rule. It came a day after he announced a sweeping cabinet shakeup, which is seen as an effort to remove hardliners opposed to reform. | |
| "These relaxations are in line with the country's transformation," said presidential spokesman Nay Zin Latt. He said more names would eventually be struck off and "only those who were put on the blacklist due to criminal and other economic misdemeanours will remain on the blacklist". | "These relaxations are in line with the country's transformation," said presidential spokesman Nay Zin Latt. He said more names would eventually be struck off and "only those who were put on the blacklist due to criminal and other economic misdemeanours will remain on the blacklist". |
| The list has included journalists, critics and a wide range of people that the former military junta deemed a threat to national security. | The list has included journalists, critics and a wide range of people that the former military junta deemed a threat to national security. |
| It blocks foreigners and Burmese abroad from entering the country and also prohibits certain Burmese nationals from leaving. | It blocks foreigners and Burmese abroad from entering the country and also prohibits certain Burmese nationals from leaving. |
| State-owned newspaper the New Light of Myanmar indicated that at least some of those removed from the list were Burmese nationals living abroad. It reported that the changes give a "green light … to those Myanmar citizens who are currently in foreign countries, enabling them to return home." | State-owned newspaper the New Light of Myanmar indicated that at least some of those removed from the list were Burmese nationals living abroad. It reported that the changes give a "green light … to those Myanmar citizens who are currently in foreign countries, enabling them to return home." |
| The new government took office in March 2010 after the country's first elections in 20 years. Until now, it has continued to update the list as it sees fit. | The new government took office in March 2010 after the country's first elections in 20 years. Until now, it has continued to update the list as it sees fit. |
| Among those famously blacklisted was former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, who played pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady, which was released last year. Yeoh had met Suu Kyi on an initial visit but was deported upon arrival for her second visit in June 2011 and informed she was blacklisted. | Among those famously blacklisted was former Bond girl Michelle Yeoh, who played pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in The Lady, which was released last year. Yeoh had met Suu Kyi on an initial visit but was deported upon arrival for her second visit in June 2011 and informed she was blacklisted. |
| Author Benedict Rogers, who wrote a 2010 biography on former junta chief Than Shwe, has been on and off the list. | Author Benedict Rogers, who wrote a 2010 biography on former junta chief Than Shwe, has been on and off the list. |
| "This is an encouraging and positive step," said Rogers. "I hope all of the other people on the list will be removed, except those who genuinely pose a security threat to the country." | "This is an encouraging and positive step," said Rogers. "I hope all of the other people on the list will be removed, except those who genuinely pose a security threat to the country." |