Gov’t battalion requests for tollgate fees waved

Tuesday, July 16th, 2013

Min Thu Tha — The Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 283 produced an exemption letter that allows a transport vehicle under their control to pass through ethnic armed groups toll booths without paying. The money that has already been collected from passengers for the toll is pocketed by the LIB 283.

A copy of the tollgate exemption request letter.

The exemption letter that was signed by the battalion commander and seen by the Independent Mon News Agency allows their truck to transports both goods and people along the TPP to Kyunchaung highway passing tollgates manned by the Karen National Union (KNU), Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and New Mon State Party (NMSP) for free.

The truck, which is owned by a woman by the name of Ma Pu, transports the most passengers and goods to the Thai border, according to an unidentified man that works at one of the tollgates. The man also said the woman runs a boat service.

Ma Pu will save 3000 Kyat on every passenger in the truck that paid the fees for 3 tollgates upfront, according to the tollgate operator.

"If there is less inquiry at the tollgates, there will be more drug and human trafficking," said a NMSP member that didn't want his name used. Normally all the passengers of a vehicle must disembark at checkpoints. This allows the various ethnic armed groups to inspect who is on board and spot known drug and human traffickers.

There are also a number of tollgates from Chaungzone to TPP operated by Border Guard Force (BGF), militias and Burma military.

There are very few other options in the way of roadways for large trucks that are travelling to the Thai border. Last January a simple road from Kyarinnseikkyi to TPP was built by the Shwe Chaung Zone Company. But the road that was financed by the government is prone to flooding therefore risky for transport trucks.

In order to get to Kyarinnseikkyi or Chaung-na-kwa passengers must travel from boat from Kyunchaung and travel one day by truck to reach Mudon Town. Eight transport boat companies have started operating from Chaungzone to Kyunchaung.

KNU Brigade 6 opened up the water route from TPP to Kyarinnseikkyi on the Zami river on June 26.

Most of the highways from TPP to Ye, TPP to Thanbyuzayat or TPP to Kyarinnseikkyi are operational during the summer and winter seasons. Once the rainy season starts boat transport in the Zami river gets more use. 

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/07/20/govt-battalion-requests-for-tollgate-fees-waved/