Burmese Army troops extorted 5 million kyats from livestock traders and local people in northern Chin state on November 29.
The soldiers belonged to the Light Infantry Battalion 50, based in Sabawngte village, Matupi Township.
The traders were from Reng Khiang village, Matupi Township. They were moving the animals to sell them in Mizoram, northeast India, when the soldiers stopped them between Lung Cawi and Sabawngte villages and demanded money.
“We didn’t make any profits because we paid 3 million kyats for 13 buffaloes in Burma and sold them for 23,000 rupees in Mizoram. Now the exchange rate is 15 kyats to the rupee. We also spent money waiting for the butchers to pay up,” said a trader.
Most livestock traders buy Indian made solar panels in Mizoram and sell them in Burma to recover their capital.
While, the military extorts money from traders other forms of abuse, such as forced labor, is on the decline in Chin state, especially in rural areas.
“We feel our relationship with the local Burmese Army battalions is comfortable in the region, but the army is still extorting money from traders,” said a local from the Indo-Burma border area.
