KALADAN NEWS

Datd: Wednesday November 23, 2003

Nasaka Authorities Illegally Taking Money From Public to Support their Armed Force

Maungdaw, November 23: Nasaka (Border Security Force) of Maungdaw Township in Arakan State was taking Kyat 500,000/- from a businessman by giving a license for a sole agent of vermicelli for only Maungdaw Township, said a trader from Maungdaw Town.

A businessman named Maung Naing Win, 30, hailed from Ward No. (5) of Maungdaw Town has taken a license from Nasaka for a sole agent of vermicelli for only Maungdaw Township to purchase vermicelli (locally known Semai) from neighboring Bangladesh and to sell it in Maungdaw Township. He got permission for the period of November 01 to 30, 2003, as a sole agent, he further added.

 The holy month of Ramandan (the Sabbath month) begins on October 28, 2003, as the moon of the lunar month was sighted on 27^th of said month. This holy month begins with the Muslims preparing themselves for 30 days of fasting and self-abstinence in their quest for purification of the body and soul in the true sense of the term, said a religious man from Maungdaw Town.

The Ramadan will be ended on 25^th or 26^th of November and the Muslims will celebrate Eid-ul-fitr (the festival marking the end of Ramadan). As it is customary for every Muslim, even the poor, to wear new clothes and to give presents to near and dear ones and buys at least a kg of vermicelli in every family to eat and entertain guests. And also people use vermicelli for unfastens the Sabbath after sunsets. As a result, the vermicelli is an essential commodity of Ramadan month and the Eid-ul- fitr, he further said.

 The effects of US sanctions hardest hit the Burmese economy. Even the price of newsprint increased by almost 50% and prices of imported goods skyrocketed and thousands of workers have been thrown out of work. The scarcity of US Dollars in Burma makes difficulties in the country’s business.

 Therefore, SPDC authorities try to cope the situation; they have engaged to collect money from public by various ways to support their armed forces, said another trader to our source. ##

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