This article was published under the ‘human rights’ section of SHAN but the [him] moderator cannot determine if the author agrees or disagrees with women eighteen to twenty-five exercising their right of movement.

Underage women can pay to cross the border
Tai Touch
Shan Herald Agency for News
2 March 2006

Despite the law restricting women under 25 to travel to the border and across it, Burmese authorities in eastern Shan State have made allowances for those who can pay, according to sources coming to the border.

Any underage women can easily obtain a safe conduct at the office of the Myanmar Women Affairs Federation  Eastern Shan State in Kengtung after paying 200,000 kyat ($200), signed by its chairwoman, an office customarily held by the wife of the regional commander.

On arrival at Tachilek, she must pay 200 baht ($5) to apply for a border pass and another 200 baht at the border checkpoint if she chooses not to leave her national ID card there. "The keeping of the cards are quite disorderly," said a local resident, who travels back and forth across the border, "and it is not unusual to find a wayfarer who has his/her ID card misplaced by the officials."

For a girl who comes to find work in Thailand, keeping the ID card on her person therefore is a more sensible option. "Not only women, but also men who aim to have a long stay in Thailand like myself willingly pay 200 baht at the border checkpoint so they can keep their ID cards," said a migrant worker.

Burma promulgated the Anti Trafficking in Persons Law on 13 September. An offender is punishable by life in prison.

http://www.shanland.org/articles/humanrights/2006/News-02020306