The Chin National Front, a Chin rebel group today said that it had not issued any order to shut down the Indo-Burma border trade road No (2). It, however asked Burmese traders not to trade until there is a roll back in the hike on transportation fees in Mizoram state, northeast India.

"We, the CNF do not have the authority to close the Indo-Burma border trade road," Pu Thet Ni, CNF's spokeperson said.

"We only told the traders from Burma that it will be better not to go in for trade between Burma and India because of the increased charges in transportation fees in Mizoram," he added.

Along with the request to the Burmese traders, the CNF is trying to negotiate with the Zokhuathar Welfare Association and Champhai Trade Union in order to bring down the transportation fee, which has increased from Rs.1.50 per kilogram to Rs. 3. So far CNF's efforts have not succeeded, according to CNF's spokesperson.

Finally, the CNF asked the traders from Burma to wait for the charges to come down and not to continue with trade activities.

Most of the traders from Burma who do business along the Indo-Burma Border Trade Road No (2)) seem to have no objection to CNF's calling for a halt to their business because of the high transportation fee.

"We agree with the advice of CNF not to trade between Burma and Mizoram as there will be no profit as long as the fee is high," a Burmese trader in Mizoram said.

Trade activities on the Indo-Burma Border Trade Road No (2) have been brought to a standstill, since the transportation fee charged for goods coming into Mizoram state from Burma was doubled early of last month after a new cargo station was set up in Melbuk near Champhai town in Mizoram state.

Earlier, there was only one cargo station in Zokhawthar village in Champhai district near the Indo-Burma border. The charge was Rs. 1.50 per kilogram.

As a result, the prices of goods from Burma in the markets of Mizoram state, has gradually risen.