SPDC Troops Demand Fuel and Tax from Fishing Boats

SPDC Troops Demand Fuel and Tax from Fishing Boats

Independent Mon News Agency

March 3, 2005

The Burmese troops, which is based in a check-point on

Ye river near Andaman Sea have demanded fuel and tax

from fishing boats that are crossing into the sea for

fishing, according to a leader of Ye-chaungwa village.

The troops from Infantry Battalion No. 61 which is

under the command of Military Operation Management

Comment No. (19), that operates or takes

responsibility in that area, stop every boat which

crosses into sea and have demanded two fuel gallon per

boat.

“If we don’t stop, they will shot us. Then they will

slap us and we have to pay back as compensation for

the costs of bullets that they shot to us”, said a

fisher Mr. Nai Saung.

Fishermen have to pay tax not only for the troops, and

but also to the marine troops based in the Andaman

Sea.

“The soldiers those demanding fuel also have to pay

money to battalion commander concerned based in the

area. They have to bribe to the commander for

extension of their duty in the check-point. If not,

they must be removed and replaced,” a New Mon State

Party’s Tavoy District Committee member said.

The similar tax extortion happened in villages in the

southern part of Ye Township and Yebyu Township. The

villagers from fishing villages: Kabya, Kyauk-tayan,

Kan-taung, and Pyuu, have to pay the similar type of

tax, but they do not dare to speak out about the

extortion, according to a villager from Ye-chaungwa

village.

Every boat has to register at the Kan-taung

check-point in Yebyu Township, near Yatana Gas

Pipeline. If they refused for the registration and

fish in the sea without permission documents, their

fishes, fuel and battery must be confiscated by the

troops, added the villager.

For the boats in the Andaman Sea, each boat has to pay

2, 000 Kyat each time during registration and

sometimes the boats are forced to transport troops

from one place to another where they referred.

The demand of tax money from the local fishermen from

Ye Township and Yebyu Township has been taken place

since last year. All villagers who stay along the

seacoast of Andaman Sea are fishermen and relying on

fishing livelihood. Since 2000, more troops of

Burmese Army were deployed in the area, and the

soldiers levy more illegal tax extortions in order to

support their battalion concerned.

For further information, please contact to Independent

Mon News Agency

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