Economic Abuses of Shan, from Shan

[brelief@xxxxxxx]

FARMERS WILL STILL BE FORCED TO SELL THEIR RICE PADDY

On 15.12.97, the commander of Murng-Ton-based SPDC Infantry Battalion No. 65
Lt. Col. Swe Myint (a) Hla Myint issued a notice that in 1998 SPDC would buy
rice paddy from the farmers on the ratio of 27 tins (1 tin is about 20
litres) per acre, at the rate of 15Ks per tin ? (the current market price is
35-40Ks per tin).  According to the statistics of SPDC, there are 1858 acres
of rice fields in Murng-Ton.  Farmers who could not produce enough paddy or
produced different kinds of paddy (e.g. sticky rice) rather than the one
required by SPDC would have to buy from other farmers and resell it.

The rice fields of those who refused or failed to sell according to their
quotas would be confiscated by SPDC and people from lowland Burma would be
brought up to cultivate them.

It is said that similar notices have also been issued in several other
townships:

1.  	Murng-Pan
2.	Larng-Khur
3.	Murng-Nai (Kaeng-Tawng)
4.	Nam-Zarng
5.	Lai-Kha
6.	Murng-Kerng
7.	Kae-See
8.	Kun-Hing
9.	Loi-Lem (Parng-Long)

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Economic Situation in Kun-Hing Town

On 20.12.97, SPDC (formerly SLORC) authorities in Kun-Hing issued a notice
that starting from 1.1.98 they would levy taxes on shops and vehicles on a
monthly basis.  A small shop selling small and inexpensive things would be
taxed 1000 Ks per month, while a medium-sized shop would be taxed
10,000-15,000Ks.  A big shop with various goods and commodities would be
taxed 25,000-30,000Ks.  Each vehicle would be taxed 3,000-5,000Ks per month.
This has caused some anxiety among the shop and car owners in town and some
have already started thinking of moving to other big towns like Tawngyyi
(Taunggyi) and Kaeng-tung to avoid it.

The SLORC authorities have also restricted the citizens of Kun-Hing not to
trade in Chinese goods worth over 1,000 Ks because it affects the sales of
the Chinese stores set up by Chinese entrepreneurs from China.  It has
become more and more difficult for the people to make a living as traders
nowadays because there is virtually no profit trading in Thai goods and the
Chinese goods that give them some profits have been restricted, complained a
local trader.

Shan Human Rights Foundation
Monthly Report
January 1998

P.O. Box 201 Phrasing PO
Chiang Mai
50200
Thailand
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