Officers of the Karen State Peace and Development Council (PDC) have refused the Karen Peace Council’s (KPC) recent request to begin levying taxes in Three Pagodas Township.

The KPC, which split from the Karen National Union in February 2007, wished to tax travel between Three Pagodas Township and Kya-inn-seik-kyi Township, in Karen State. A KPC delegation traveled to Three Pagodas Pass to speak with township authorities in the second week of September, but left empty-handed on the 24th.

“We can’t allow the council to set up a checkpoint. There are already too many groups operating in the area,” said a government military source in Three Pagodas Pass. “The peace council delegation already left Three Pagoda Pass, and will retreat from the Kya-inn-seik-kyi area.”

Three ethnic cease-fire groups, as well as the Burmese military, already share authority – and tax income – in Three Pagodas Pass, which controls a lucrative border crossing into Thailand. The groups, including the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the Karen Peace Front, share income generated by taxes in border town. According to the military source, there is not enough income to satisfy all parties involved.

Outside Three Pagodas Pass, the Burmese army and armed ethnic groups operate a variety of checkpoints. There are over a dozen gates on just the Zemi River, which serves as the main route to Thailand during the rainy season. Two regular gates are operated by each the NMSP, KNU, DKBA and KPF. The Burmese army operates another five. According to car driver and boat owner, each vehicle must pay 5,000 kyat at each gate, with the exception of gates run by the DKBA, who demands 30,000 kyat.

The Mon National Peace Party, a Mon splinter group, is also trying to begin operations in the Three Pagodas area. Former NMSP central committee member Major General Aung Naing, who separated from the party in March 2008, leads the group.

The KPC, meanwhile, is limited to operation in the Htotkawkoe village area, in Kawkareik Township in Karen state. The group, founded by Major General Htain Maung, a former commander of Karen National Liberation Army brigade No. 7, is made up of 307 members and 11 families.