June 4, 2009: The Burmese Army has been extorting money from vehicle owners in Falam town and other parts of the township including Tibil village. This has come in the way of villagers selling their chilies in Mizoram.

According to sources the authorities of the Burmese Army’s LIB 268 based in Tibual collect between Kyat 30,000 to 50,000 per service vehicle plying between Falam town, Chin state to the Tibil border area of Mizoram state in India. Vehicle owners are reluctant to operate their service, affecting the sale of the local produce -- chilies.

"Traders hire a vehicle for Kyat 4 lakhs a trip. And the army collects Kyat 50,000 per vehicle.  The vehicle driver has to pay Kyat 30,000 and the handyman has to pay Kyat 10,500. Besides the owners have expenses like vehicle tax, vehicle maintenance and diesel. We cannot make much profit so we do not want to ply our vehicles," said a vehicle owner.

Most people in these 50 villages grow chili as their source of income and they sell it to Mizoram state, India during summer. They can produce 5 lakhs tins of chili annually.

"With the rainy season approaching we can't hire any vehicle. Our chilies are getting moist. It is our source of income and we are totally dependent on it. After selling chilies we buy rice and can pay children's school fees," said a local.

Similarly, the LIB 266 based in Vuangtu and Lungler also collect Kyat 500 per tin of chili produced in Than Tlang township, Chin state.

"We have been carrying chilies to Mizoram on horseback. The military collects Kyat 500 per tin of chili on the way. We do not get permission to go without paying what they demand," said a local farmer.