Officials of the Department of Road Transport Administration based in Nay Pyi Daw have been pressing people in Mong Yang Township, Keng Tung district to obtain motorcycle licenses in order to raise funds for Cyclone Nargis victims, according to sources from eastern Shan State.

A group of seven officials arrived in Mong Yang on October 7 to issue licenses for unlicensed motorcycles.

On the following day, at 8 am, they called on the unlicensed motorcycle owners to submit applications together with three copies of identity cards and household registers as well as their two wheelers at the town's football field, a source said.

The fees vary depending on the type of motorcycle and its model. License for a Thailand manufactured motorcycle is between Kyat 180,000 (US $146) and Kyat 256,000 (US $207). The fee for a Chinese manufactured motorcycle is between Kyat 75,000 (US $61) and Kyat 176,000 (US $142) while the Yamaha manufactured in Japan is at least between Kyat 225,000 (US $182) to and Kyat 480,000 (US$389).

Later, applicants still need to pay additional tax to the officials of the Department of Road Transport Administration to the tune of Kyat 3,000 (US$2) to 6,000 (US $5) and officials of Township Municipality, Kyat 30,000 (US$24) to 40,000 (US $32) for one motorcycle, a resident said and added that "They said, those taxes are for Cyclone Nargis funds".

Authorities issued licenses for 200 motorcycles each day.

In the mean time, local authorities in Namkham, northern Shan State, reportedly seized over 100 unlicensed motorcycles from the town market yesterday, traditionally marked as a market day, according to a source from the Sino-Burma border.