U Nam Lian, who has a butcher's licenses on livestock auctioned for 2008, has been overcharging butchers in terms of tax and they are finding it unprofitable to sell meat in Falam town, northern Chin state in Burma.
 
"He (U Nam Lian who holds a butcher's license) levies Kyat 4000 for a cow and Kyat 3000 for a pig," a local from Falam town said.
 
U Nam Lian purchased a butcher's license auctioned by Falam's Township Peace and Development Council office for 2008 for Kyat 6,000,000.
 
Despite imposing increased tax on butchers who sell meat in Falam market, a price hike on meat is prohibited.
 
"Though he charges increased tax for butchering, the butchers are told to sell meat in keeping with the price fixed by local authorities in Falam town," a local added.
 
The current price of pork and beef are Kyat 4500 per kg in Falam market. The price of a cow is Kyat 200,000 and a pig is between 50,000 to over 100,000 in Falam town.
 
"We pay heavy tax but are not allowed to raise the price of meat," a butcher from Falam complained.
 
Zaw Win Htey, chairman of TPDC in Falam Town had issued an order early this year fixing the price of meat at Kyat 4500 per kg. Those who fail to comply with the order will be punished, according to locals in Falam town.