How do you say “Police” in Myanmar?

How do you say “Police” in Myanmar?  No one would stick around long enough to tell me – ‘Trouble,’ is basically the best answer I got.  After all day out interviewing we came home exhausted to the hotel staff running towards us.  The police came, multiple times, looking for us and demanded to know what we were doing here.  

 

I confidently assured them that I had a research visa and it was OK.  Hosana translated all of this and looked back at me and said, “They already know you have a research visa.  They still don’t understand why you are asking about land and they aren’t happy about it.”  Yikes…ok…So that precious document that I struggled to get guaranteeing my work and safe travel really turned out to be just a piece of paper and provides no protection whatsoever.  My research visa that I was so thankful to receive and so proud to show off in my passport (minus the hideous picture) turned out to be another meaningless piece of paperwork.

It appears inviting from this picture but...

“They need a copy of your passport, visa, and research questions.”  Ok, no problem, I can get that for you.  I could tell the entire staff was tense, as many of them gathered in the parking lot to talk about what to do and how to handle the police.  I asked if I had gotten anyone in trouble and the staff smiled and said, “It’s ok if you do.”  I felt a knot in my stomach.  “Am I going to get anyone in trouble?!”  I got the same answer: ‘It’s ok if you do, we don’t mind we want to help you.’

After more discussion, one of the staff called the authorities, who were anxious to hear from us.  I couldn’t understand much but I heard “American,” “research visa” and “foreigner.”  I thought the conversation was going well.  The manager hung up the phone, said something in Burmese, and Hosana said, “They are on their way.”  

Wait, WHAT?  They are on their way here?  Now?  But it’s 9 o’clock at night!

The manager told us to go back to our room and rest (yeah right!).  He said he would handle it and it would be better if I weren’t around for it.  He took my papers with my visa…and that’s when I first began to hold my breath – and I held it the entire time I was in Ngwe Saung.