Junta collects illegal taxes and fees from local people

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

One of the public relation stunts for the junta is to eradicate drugs from the country but a reliable source from inside Burma reported that junta officials are hardly doing their job and collecting opium and other taxes from local people in some parts of Southern Shan State.

On January 7, Major Kyaw Thura Myo from the Burma Army Infantry Battalion (IB) 12, taxed villagers for growing poppies and collected millions of Kyat from them. The villages being taxed were:

1. Kung-hsa village from Wan Khem village tract in Kehsi township and the taxation amount was K 100,000 ( US $ 83 )
   
   
2. Wan Kieng village,from Mong Khun village tract in Mong Keung township and the amount was K 200,000 ( US $ 166 ) and
   
   
3. Wan Natoom and Kungpek villages, Nawng-hsawm village tract in Kehsi township and they were taxed K 300,000 (US $ 250) each.

On the same day, an official from the Burma Army Infantry Battlion( IB) 12 and 52, Major Nyan Aung Win led his troops to Mong Yai village tract in Kehsi township and taxed on rice mills (K 55,000 (US $ 46 ) each and Tolagis (mini tractors), said a villager from that area.

Again, on January 8, Major Nyunt Win from Burma Army Infantry Battalion (IB) 131, who set up a camp at Pang Kart village, Wan Khem village tract in Kehsi Township, ordered people to buy a motorbike for his use. A villager who wishes to remain anonymous said, “He asked us to buy a motorbike for him and said it was as a tax on opium fields”.

Collecting illegal taxes and ignoring official orders are common practices by officials of different ranks in Burma. A statement issued by Mongyai Township’s Health Management in Mongyai Township on 16 January 2008, said it was going to collect money from the residents for pest and bacteria control in the region. At the bottom of the statement it stated, “For those who cannot afford to pay, the committee will provide free service”.

However, a reliable source said, “It is only written in the paper. The municipality and the fire brigade of Mongyai Township (90 km Southeast of Lashio, the capital of Northern Shan State) did not follow the instruction. They even asked an old paralyzed lady from Wanlong whose name is Nai Nung to pay Kyat 2,000 (US $ 1.6)’ he said “The lady is alone and has no money and is being taken care by her sister, Nang Hkek”.