Burmese government employees increase arbitrary taxation in Mon state

August 11, 2009

HURFOM: Increases in arbitrary taxation by the Burmese armed forces and community groups has led to greater economic hardship for many villagers in Mon state.

A variety of taxes levied against villagers have increased such that what many villagers now have to pay is double the original cost. According to villagers, in previous months they have been paying a total of 5,000 kyat per month, but now they’re paying approximately 10,000 kyat, doled out to a variety of government bodies.

An Abit villager, in Mudon Township explained, “We just had to pay about 3,000 or 4,000 kyat per month before, but now our household needs to pay nearly 10,000 kyat for local taxation.”

The Burmese government’s Artillery Regiment’s (AR) No. 315 and No. 318, which are located in Mudon Township, have been increasing their gas pipeline patrol taxes this month, which accompany an apparent change in security strategy. Previously villagers were forced to guard the pipeline themselves by the local regiments, and if they weren’t able to or refused, they had to pay. Now AR No. 315 and No. 318 have dispensed with asking locals to guard the pipeline and instead guard it themselves, and collect money from all the villagers.

“The ARs No. 315 and No. 318 do not allow the people to guard the gas pipeline now – they just collect the money for their soldiers and guard the pipeline,” said a Waewinkara villager from Thanbyuzayat Township. “But, in August they increased the tax amount. Previous years, and during the last couple of months, AR No. 315 just collected about 1,500 to 2,000 kyat per month. Now they increase [the tax] to 3,500 kyat from each household.”

Nai Thar Thar (name withheld for security purposes), from Hneepadaw village, Mudon Township, said, “Now, paying for the pipeline guard has increasing to 4,500 kyat in our village.”

For many in the villagers, arbitrary taxation from the military is not the only drain on their money – community groups – often described as government organized non governmental originations, or ‘GONGOS’, also demand money for their own purposes.

Nai Thar Thar explained, “In addition, in our village we also have to pay fund rising for a fireman group, the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA), the Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MCWA), and [a fund] to welcome high ranking officials in the area.”

According to a government office staff member, there is an explanation for the increase in arbitrary taxation. He explains, “The administration of the national budget has become worse. They cannot provide enough income for their staff. Thus the staffs are increasing the taxes they take for them to survive.”

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News