The setting for this Review was a period of extreme political uncertainty
in the weeks before the general election in May 1990. Recent shifts towards
a liberalization of external trade and the promotion of formal private-sector
activities had opened the economy to foreign investments and brought the
country out of a period of commercial isolation lasting almost 30 years.
Travel around the country and to sites in Yangon for major housing
projects was subject to strict security control and to prior official approval. A
nightly curfew was in force. Access to certain high-level officials required
several days' notice and copies of official publications and maps were difficult
to obtain through official channels. Following evacuations during the period
of civil unrest in 1988, UNDP and most other donors were again fully
operational.