Tuesday, 22 January 2008

Burma announces ban on cars with Chinese license plates

Hseng Khio Fah
Shan Herald Agency for News
January 22, 2008


On January 15, at 9:00 am, a Burma official issued a statement banning on Chinese vehicles from stopping overnight in Muse, at the Sino-Burma border in Northern Shan State.

According to a local source, Major-General Aung Than Htut, Commander of the Lashio-based Northeastern Region Command, instructed the local official U Nyunt Harn to ban cars with Chinese number plates from staying overnight. U Nyunt Harn then issued official statements along the border areas of Burma especially in Muse.

“Most rich people use Chinese licensed cars. They cost K 10,000,000 (US $ 8,333 ) with license and cars purchased in Burma cost about the same but they come without license. Therefore, sometimes they are caught driving cars without license. So, people don’t want to use it,” said a person who is driving a Chinese licensed car.

“The gates from Jiegao (in China) to Muse (in Burma) and vice-versa are only opened from 6:30 am (Burmese time) 8:00 am (Chinese time) to 10:30pm (Burmese time) 12:00 pm (Chinese time). Those cars are allowed to travel into Muse during the opening time,” added a local source.

Man Wiang gate, Sin Phyu Zae gate and Shwe Nang Taw gate are the 3 Burma-China border gates. Trucks are allowed to travel through Man Wiang gates and cars and motorbikes are allowed to pass via Sin Phyu Zae gate, while Shwe Nang Taw gate allows people on foot to enter.

No comments: