Published
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - 22:54
SSA: Tax exemption for ordinary people
Since the return of its delegation from Taunggyi on 24 January and subsequent reporting to its central committee on 26 January, Restoration Council of Shan State / Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) South officers have been visiting several communities under its control along the Thai-Burmese border to explain the following new policies,
according to spokesman Maj Lao Hseng:
- The Burma Army must stop human rights abuses
- The SSA will be embarking on development projects for the people. Ordinary people will be exempted from paying all kinds of taxes.
- Tax will be imposed on commodities and businesses valued at 10 million kyat ($ 12,500 or B 390,000) and upwards.
- All persons imprisoned by the RCSS (the SSA’s political wing) will be released
- All persons, without discrimination of race, may reside in the Homong-Monghta area
- No large trees shall be felled without permission
- The SSA must not meddle in civil administrative affairs but must assist the people working for their livelihood
Lt-Gen Yawdserk also said earlier that the SSA from now on, would be an armed force made up of volunteers. The compulsory draft of males, age between 18-40, would be dropped.
SSA South and SSA North signed initial ceasefire agreements with Naypyitaw on 2 December 2011 and 28 January 2012 respectively.
