Unlicensed motorcycle owners will have to shell out 100,000 Kyats to the Department of Transportation (Ka Nya Na) for a license if they apply after the deadline which is five days from now in Ye town southern Burma.

Ka Nya Na has extended registration by two more days for Ye residents and asked for 120,000 Kyat (94 U$) from bike owners who want the license. About 350 motorcycles were brought over each day before the deadline expired two days ago.

"The officials termed the extra money as fine but the people feel they are just being corrupt. We can't avoid paying because we need a license," a couple who paid extra told IMNA.

Ka Nya Na has decided to charge 180,000 Kyat (142 U$) for each motorbike manufactured in 2005 or earlier for a license.

Although Ka Nya Na has decided to give all illegal motorbike owners license in five days, there are hundreds of motorbikes still to be registered. The Ka Nya Na extended the deadline for two days after complaints started coming in.

Hundreds of people queued up for the license and many sold their turn in the queue to people for 10,000 up to 50,000 Kyats. The Burmese military government has been providing license since July but are not giving oil subsidy.

In 2004 the military regime gave both license and oil subsidy documents to owners who could buy two gallons of gasoline each month at cheaper prices.

Many residents in Moulmein, the capital of Mon State have been complaining about the government having stopped providing license in August. Many went to the Ka Nya Na office and, the officer said that they will give licenses again in Moulmein after covering the rural areas and small towns.