More taxes levied on Indo-Burma border trade road

Khonumthung News: 10 August, 2006

Fresh taxes have been levied on traders and travelers to Mizoram this monsoon by the Burmese authorities.

Damage to roads in the rains has compelled traders and travellers to walk, providing an advantage to the authorities to collect more taxes from them. The authorities reportedly collected Kyat 1,000 per head from the travellers on foot and Kyat 500 per vehicle at each check gate.

A trader said, "If we do not pay the taxes, they are bound to arrest us. We have to pay whether we have the money or not."

It is a common for the trade route connecting Tedim and New Rih town of Chin state to be damaged in monsoon. Traders and travellers usually spend three to four days on this road. The goods are transported by vehicles while the owners travel on foot.

Some traders and travellers hire porters to transport their goods and pay Kyat 500 per viss (one and half kilograms) plus Kyats 1,500 per meal.

Check gates, where the authorities collect taxes are located in Laitui, Lentlang, Hmunthar, Khuathar and Rih villages between Tedim and New Rih town. Traders and travellers also have to pay additional taxes if they encounter the police, immigration or army patrols.

About seven to 10 jeeps travel between Tedim and Rih in a day. Around 20 to 30 people travel in a jeep and the authorities collect taxes from every vehicle and individual.