Dated: March 03, 2004
Maungdaw, March 03: Burmese military junta earns huge foreign currency by exporting fishes abroad every year, but the fishing sector remains neglected, said a fish exporter from Rangoon, who recently visited Bangladesh.
Hundreds of fishermen in the coastal area of Arakan State have been passing days in misery. They lack capital for building new boats or repairing old ones and making fishing nets, a fisherman told our source.
It is learnt by correspondent while visited various fishing trading centers in the riverbank of the Naff, a fisherman told this correspondent that “now” is the best time for preparing themselves for next fishing. Many fishing boats and trawlers remain idle on the river Naff.
One Khala Putu of Maungdaw Township who is the head of a six-member family borrowed Kyats 37,500/- last season from a moneylender. But, he is yet to repay the money. So, the moneylender won’t lend him money this year. He faces a grim future being unable to make a boat and fishing net. Pirates looted his boat and fishing boat last season.
Another fish trader Manik Meah told that an amount Kyat 1.5 to 2.2 million (US$ 2,485) is needed to build a fishing trawler. It is not possible for fisherman to build fishing trawler without bank loan or government assistance. But, it is not feasible in Burma, told to our correspondent.
So, fishermen are compelled to borrow money from moneylenders or wholesalers at high interests. As a result, the concerned fisherman has to sell fish to them throughout the season at much below the market price, in the process they being deprived of fair price, he further added.
At these circumstances, fishermen have to pay and pay money to the SPDC concerned authorities for various purposes. At first, they have to pay Kyat 2,500 to 12,500 according to their size of fishing net to get license from Nasaka authority. Besides, they have to pay Kyat 3,500/- in every 15 days and Kyat 5,000/- for a book that was provided by Nasaka (Border Security Force) captain, on which is written fisherman’s short biography. At last, they have to pay Kyat 120,000 (US$ 135) to the Nasaka agent, who is bidder of Nasaka, for one-year permit, said another fisherman, who prefers not to mention his name.
When the fishing boats or trawlers returned to their destination after fishing in deep sea, the Nasaka forces went there to see how much they got fishes and took away some fish what they like. If any one protests or shows any kinds of unsatisfactory against them he will be punished, he more added. ##
Note: US$1= Kyat-885/-
For more information, please contact at:
E-mail: [email protected]
Mobile: (+880) 11 227 138