Authorities again seize motorbikes in Tenasserim Division

May 8, 2009

HURFOM, Yebyu: Authorities are again seizing motorbikes from villagers in the Tenasserim Division and restricting access to licenses through corruption and limiting the area in which a license is useful.

According to a villager from Yapu in Yabyu Township, three semi trucks were seen carrying a cargo of motorbikes out of the village. While it was unknown where the trucks were headed, the witness was convinced the bikes were ones that had recently been sized from villagers.

According to a 45 year old villager from Tenasserim, “In February, 2009, my son’s bike was seized because he had no license. And he had no licenses because his bike was a 2009 model, and when he went to apply the authorities denied him a licenses because the 4 month period they set for applications had already expired.

In October 2008 the authorities allowed villagers to apply for licenses for their bikes, but only within a 4 month window. Villagers were denied the opportunity to apply for licenses in person, and instead were expected to register through brokers. The villagers then had to pay the brokers, depending on the bike model, anywhere between 200,00 and 500,000 Kyat to get a license.

According to one villager from Kaleinaung village, the authorities sized motorbikes with model years ranging from 2001 to 2009. Government employees are still able to use motorbikes without a license nor have their bikes been seized. Authorities have also restricted the movement of licenses holders to the region in which they obtained the licenses.

A villager form Kaleinaung said “On the first week of April I traveled to my relative’s house. On my way I saw traffic police checking for drivers licenses and helmets. I had both a helmet and a drivers license, but they told me because my bike is from Tenasserim Division rather then Mon State where I was driving, I had to pay 10,000 Kyat”

In the past authorities have seized villager’s vehicles with little provocation, as in 2003 the authorities sized over 200 bikes. While an estimated 90 bikes have been seized thus far, some villagers have managed to avoid losing their bikes by paying fines or bribes.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News