It has been a long time since a local publication has published much on male sex work in Yangon. And this is the first time that I have seen the Theingyizay pedestrian overpasses featured.
If a man provides paid sexual services then it is not 'abnormal'. Most of us think that a male providing paid sexual services to a male is also not 'abnormal'. If the police don't want it to happen then they will find a charge for it.
Was this article published in the Burmese language editions of Eleven publications?
Jamie
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Authorities turn a blind eye to widespread male sexual services
Eleven Media
26 January 2015
The authorities are reluctant to take any action against male sexual services and massage parlours although they are rife in Yangon, according to police and those involved in the business. Male sexual service has been around for two years and prevailed especially in 2014.
Male massage parlours are rife in Ahlon, Mayangone, Sanchaung and Yankin townships and in some other suburban areas and camouflage themselves as male-only health and beauty spas with the majority of clients being homosexuals.
The business has grown large and the owners have started recruiting drive especially via social networks.
“I enquired a massage parlour in Ahlon Township soon as I saw the vacancy announcement online. It said the salary was Ks 40,000 (US$40) a month plus 15 per cent allowance per section of service,” a man in his 20s shared his experience upon inquiry.
The work does not need any experience or education level. The main qualifications are the height, fit body structure, good looks and patience, he added.
“The job is well-paid and doesn’t take much effort. The employer explained the job description thoroughly,” he continued.
With the rise in number of homosexuals, the male-exclusive massage parlours have been common; some offer services outside of the description.
The owners use Facebook to entice clients and act as the bridge between its employees and the customers.
Some male prostitutes – aged between 18 and 30 – have connections with such massage parlours, and wait for the customers near the crowded places such as Bogyoke Market, Theingyizay Market, and the downtown area like Pansodan especially at night.
Yangon Regional Police have conducted crackdown against female sex workers and massage parlours but the countermeasures against male hustlers are relatively seldom.
The Prostitution Act Section 3 (b) and the Police Act Section 30 (d) are frequently used to charge anyone involved in the business.
“Have a look at the crowded places especially in downtown. You will find 10-15 men on the overpass near Theingyizay Market. If you take a closer look, you’ll see them bargaining with their clients,” said a taxi-driver who lives in downtown.
Some deals are reached through social networks and some through personal contacts.
In the past, male prostitutes dressed in white shirts with roses inside the pockets could be seen at Theingyizay market overpass and Pansodan bus stop in the commercial city of Yangon.
Some women took them to their houses and hotels by cars for their sexual pleasure. Most of such women are divorcees, sailors’ wives and women whose husbands are away. Nowadays, we hardly see them. Now they can make appointments on the internet and phones,” said a police officer from the Yangon Region.
But some facebook pages allure gays and women by spreading attractive male photos on its social networks.
An unnamed police officer from the Yangon Region Police said on 22 January: “No action has yet been taken against male massage parlours and prostitutes in Yangon Region. We have yet to receive any report about it. We conduct a crackdown on female prostitutes and massage parlours.
“Now we see male prostitution flourishing. This is one of the leading causes of the HIV infection,” said Dr Sit Naing from the Marie Stopes International (MSI) that has been providing best practice integrated sexual and reproductive healthcare services “There is a separate law against prostitution. But that law is only for female prostitutes. The criminal law includes a section that charged anyone involve in abnormal sexual intercourses,” said lawyer Kyaw Win.
A headmaster from the Dagon Township Basic Education High School said: “We can see such advertisings on the internet. We have yet to see disciplined democratic practices even though the country is on the way to democracy. The government should crack down on such businesses. I’m really worried about our younger generation. From my standpoint, there should not be such businesses.
“The police usually launched crackdown on female massage parlours pretending to be customers. But I have never heard of police crackdown on male massage parlours and prostitutes yet.
The police should crack down on them just like female prostitutes,” said an unnamed massage parlour owner from Tamwe Township.
“I will submit a proposal to the parliament to effectively control the rise of such businesses in Yangon as it goes against Myanmar tradition and customs,” said MP Khin San Hlaing.
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=8812:authorities-turn-a-blind-eye-to-widespread-male-sexual-services&catid=36:crime&Itemid=359
