For the first time this year, the Burmese ruling junta has ordered the seizure of oil in a meaningless move in Burma’s northern Kachin State’s capital of Myitkyina since yesterday, said local residents.

On the orders of the junta’s Northern Command (Ma Pa Kha) commander Brig-Gen Soe Win, town policemen launched an operation on both small and major oil shops inside and outside downtown, according to Myitkyina residents.

A local businessman told KNG today, Tai Kyaw oil shop in Myothit Quarter in the town, one of the largest gas, petrol and diesel outlets in the town was forcibly shut down last night at 8 p.m. Burma Standard Time by the town military authorities.

At the same time, there are many small gas and diesel shops on the roadside run by families in all areas outside Myitkyina downtown. They too are being raided by local policemen, added local residents.

Local residents said oil shop owners are totally confused regarding the seizure of oil in the town on the orders of Kachin State or Northern Command commander Brig-Gen Soe Win, said local sources.

People in the town are cursing the seizure of oil calling it totally meaningless. However the military authorities have given a reason for the seizure of oil in the town for “entering Summer season” which is from March to May in Burma, residents told KNG.

The sources close to oil shops said, the major oil suppliers in the town are closely linked with the Northern Commander Brig-Gen Soe Win and they would like to raise the oil prices which have fallen since last year.

If the oil prices go up, both major oil suppliers and Commander Brig-Gen Soe Win will earn more money, according to local sources close to oil shops.

In Myitkyina, authorities provide gas and diesel to owners of cars and motorcycles who have official licenses once a month. However the provided oil is very limited and they have to rely on oil from outside shops, according to residents of Myitkyina.

A family-owned oil shop owner in Tatkone (Dapkawng) Quarter said, “Fuel prices are up 100 Kyat per gallon after commander Soe Win ordered seizure of oil in the town.”

After the seizure of oil in Myitkyina, a gallon of gas is now 3,600 Kyat (est. US $ 3.6) and a gallon of diesel is 2,500 Kyat (est. US $ 2.5), added an oil shop owner in Tatkone.

In Kachin State, bordering China’s southwestern Yunnan province, gas and diesel from both Myanmar Oil Corporation (MOC), formerly known as Burma Oil Corporation (BOC) and China are favoured by consumers, said sources close to oil shops.