New crack down on unregistered motorbikes by new capital’s army

March 12, 2007

HURFOM

On March 8th, 2007, by the instruction of the new capital’s authorities, the Burmese Army continued its crackdown on unregistered motorbikes in the townships of Mudon and Thanbyuzayat in Mon state, seizing at lease 50 motorbikes , according to a Mon Human Rights Worker.

It was reported that the seizures of so-called unregistered motorcycles have started from An-Khae village, about 16 miles from Thanbyuzayat town . The seizures occurred during An-Khae village Pagoda’s festival on the night of March 8th.

?I saw some soldiers alight from two Army trucks during the festival. Then the soldiers started to seize about 20 motorbikes while the owners were watching the stage performance. The soldiers just came and picked them up and put them onto their trucks,” said Nai Blai, an eyewitness from An-Khae Village.

The seized motorbikes belonged to Mon villagers who came to join the festival from An-khae village, and many neighboring villages, the source added.

It is uncertain whether the order was issued by the local army group or the new capital’s administrative group from Naypyidaw. The next morning, troops continued raids both in Mudon and Thanpyuzayart townships. “Some people abandoned their motorcycles at nearby places,” the source explained.

“Two 10-wheel Army trucks were full of motorcycles when the troops passed through Mudon Township” said an eye witness, Nai Aort Som , a resident there.

It was reported that at the end of January and the beginning of February, 2007, the newly formed Traffic police also cracked down on unregistered motorcycles both in urban and rural areas of Mudon Township, Mon State.

In Southern Burma, many people own unregistered motorbikes and other vehicles as these are cheaper, having been imported from neighboring Thailand. A licensed motorbike is approximately US$ 2,200 to 2,500, whilst an unregistered one is only about US$ 1400.

Even though they (motorbikes) are called ‘unregistered’, these motorcycles are coming from Myawaddy and Three Pagoda Pass border towns. The traders who sold these illegal motorbikes have to pass through the Burmese Army check points (the toll gates) at Myawaddy ? Moulmein and Three Pagoda Pass ?Thanbyuzayat motor ways.

Since these motorbikes passed through the check points, the traders have to pay taxes for each motorbike to get permission in each check point before they arrived inside the country. So, the authorities let them enter the country and they themselves seize the same bikes, claiming that they are unregistered.

?What this shows is that the people who are responsible for the nation’s affairs let the motorbikes through into the country themselves and confiscate them when they are here,” said an anonymous local trader from Mudon Township.

“It is very expensive for our poor people to buy a registered motorbike,” said Nai Tun from Lamine Sub Township. “If we have to buy registered motorbikes, we will not be able to afford it,” he added.

People possessing unregistered motorbikes often have to pay taxes to motorbike police both locally and regionally. When the authorities threaten the owner with seizure, they are obliged to pay about ten to thirty thousand Kyat to retain possession of each bike.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News