He didn't say so, but his statements suggested that any members who went to Myanmar were likely to be kept from seeing anything the dictators did not want us to see. She is the Burmese woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for rallying opposition to the generals who seized control in 1988. They kept her under house arrest for six years and still confine her public appearances and harass her supporters. These are not the actions of a nation that most of us would feel comfortable visiting. The five-day trip into Myanmar is scheduled as part of the convention that will take place in October in Bangkok, but it is optional.
Similar issues face travelers surprisingly often.
If it is not a fierce dictatorship, perhaps it is the threat of violence. For instance, the society had its 1994 convention in Dublin and cautioned members not to visit the six counties of Northern Ireland. When I read that warning, I did some research and learned that despite more than 3,000 deaths during a quarter-century of terrorist activity between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, no tourist had ever been a victim. Nor did our State Department warn citizens against visiting either country. I decided that Northern Ireland would be a worthwhile destination and made my reservations.