Motorbike price jumps up after SPDC announces cleanup of illegal cars

 

Independent Mon News Agency

 

January 18, 2005

 

Motorbike prices have jumped up after the recent

announcement of a

Burmese military government cleanup of illegal

(unlicensed) cars

imported from neighboring countries, so they cost

almost the same priceas illegal cars did: two million

Kyats for a motorbike made in 2004 that has a Ma La Ma

license, and one.million Kyats for a motorbike made in

2004 that does not have a license.

 

“The government's announcement that they are going to

seize illegal

cars after the end of the coming March made the

motorbike price

increase. People afraid of having illegal cars and

motorbikes tried to get legal ones. That is why the

price of a car or motorcycle with a license jumped

up,” said Nai Chan, a motorbike and car trader from

Mon state.

 

 “Traffic police again created a rumor that the

government was really

going to seize motorbikes. That has made the motorbike

price increase

everyday,” he added.

 

According to illegal motorbike trading groups, they

hope the motorbike price can increase more in the

coming month.

 

Prices of motorbikes:

 

Kinds---------------------------Year Made--Price Kyats

 

Wave & Dream (brand) with license --- 2004 -2,000,000

Wave & Dream without license ---    2004--  1,000,000

Wave & Dream with license ---         2003- 1,800,000

Wave & Dream without license ---      2003-   900,000

Wave & Dream with license ---         2002- 1,300,000

Wave & Dream without license ----     2002-   700,000

Wave & Dream with license ---         2001- 1,200,000

Wave & Dream without license ---      2001-   600,000

Wave & Dream with license ---         2000- 1,000,000

Wave & Dream without license ---      2004-   500,000

Super Cup (from China) with license--  -   -  700,000

Super Cup (from China) without license--      500,000

Kyats

 

Most of the motorbikes were imported from Thailand and

China and most

were imported illegally. The Burmese government tries

to control import of illegal motorbikes into Burma,

but the government cannot control and open a way for

people to register their illegal bikes to become

legal.

 

Most illegal motorbike traders joined with cease-fire

groups to import into Burma. In 2004 the Burmese

government stopped cease-fire groups from supporting

people regarding illegal motorbike. Illegal Motorbike

owners also hope they can avoid trouble if cease-fire

groups resume fighting.

 

For further information please contact to IMNA

[email protected], www.monnews-imna.com

Tel: 66 (0) 9 54 94 296