The TNLA controlled the Muse to Kuktai section of the road in Northern Shan State for the whole morning. They collected tax from vehicles including cars and lorries loaded with goods according to Ko Aung Aung a car driver.

TNLA Receipt for 300,000 Kyats Tax Paid by 12 Wheel Truck

Aik Zint who was travelling in a car said: “We have never experienced this sort of thing before, so we were scared. Car drivers collected money (from other car drivers) and then paid them (the TNLA). People said that 12 wheel lorries loaded with goods had to pay 300,000 kyats tax and 22 wheel lorries had to pay 500,000 kyats. Cars only needed to pay up to 10,000 kyats if the driver humbly begged. If they did not [beg] they had to pay hundreds of thousands. We were in a car, so another driver came and collected 5,000 kyats from our car and paid it to them.”

U Khin Nyunt, who was travelling from Mandalay City told S.H.A.N. News that he had never seen anyone from an ethnic armed group and that he was scared when he saw the TNLA.

TNLA Collecting Taxes at Roadblock

In a statement the TNLA said that from 8am until the end of the morning on 29 April they controlled the Muse to Kutkai section of the Union Road and because it was an area under their control they collected taxes from vehicles to boost their funds.

Burma Army brigade numbers 11, 33, 66, 77, 88, 99, and 101 are at present active in Northern Shan State.

Translated by Aung Myat Soe English version written by Mark Inkey for BNI