Mangdaw, Arakan State:  A crisis in small currency notes has been troubling businessmen in Maungdaw Township since 2000, said a businessman on condition of anonymity.
 
Some businessmen had printed tokens or coupons for kyat 50, 100 and 200 to facilitate buying and selling of goods. They printed tokens had their signature, name and were even stamped. They also promised customers to change it anytime at their shops, the businessman added.
 
The businessmen printed about 5 million to 100 million tokens each to solve the problem. People have been using these tokens for buying and selling goods. The businessmen took the responsibility regarding the tokens and the business has been on smoothly in Maungdaw Township using tokens in place of government small notes, said another businessman, who declined to be named.   
 
The authorities have not taken any action against the businessmen regarding the use of tokens instead of government small currency notes.  The authorities are also using the tokens to buy goods. But, the government has not taken any initiative to solve the small notes crisis.
 
But, on July 3, the authorities ordered the people not to use tokens in place of government small notes.  The people are now facing difficulties in Maungdaw Township as it is a border town, said a local schoolteacher preferring not to be named.
 
The existing small notes--- kyat 50, 100 and 200--- are torn and have become very old, so people are using it by putting extra paper on it.  Despite the problem faced by the people because of the small currency note crisis, authorities suddenly ordered a halt to the use of the tokens. This has affected some of the local businessmen who had printed tokens in place of government’s small notes.
 
Following the order some of the local people destroyed the tokens and some people threw it into dustbins.  Some people are still using tokens and the businessmen, who had printed tokens earlier are allowing its use, said a local elder.