Maungdaw, Arakan State: Rohingya fishermen are leaving their homeland because they cannot pay the taxes levied by authorities in Maungdaw, according to a fisherman from Maungdaw South who lost his job.
Kaladan Press has learned two government agents, who have authority to collect taxes in Burma Border Security Force (Nasaka) areas 7 and 8 are demanding 50 percent more tax from the Rohingya fishermen this season.
“The two agents, Kyaw Saw, an ex-military intelligence officer who controls Nasaka Area 7 and, Than Htay, for Area 8, have permission from a high government official from Akyab to charge the tax, so, local officers or local elders cannot interfere,” according to a fish trader from Maungdaw.
Rohingya fishermen say they cannot stay in business and pay the exorbitant taxes, a village administration office member from Nasaka Area 8 told kaladan Press in a recent interview.
The agents are also collecting 1.2 million kyat per year from a boat with an engine, as well as 90,000 kyat per month from each rowboat.
As well, each boat is charged 3000 kyats per day to unload their catch.
The fishermen are not able to land sufficient catch to pay the taxes and pay their expenses, including debts to fish traders who pay in advance for the catch, according to the trader from Maungdaw.
He said this is forcing many fishermen to leave their homeland to fish in Bangladesh and Malaysia, so they can pay their debts.
