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Market sellers forced to donate for Cyclone Nargis victims
Municipal officials in northern Shan State have been forcing traders to donate for survivors of Cyclone Nargis which on 2-3 May hit Rangoon, Irrawaddy, Mon State, Pegu division and Karen State, according to reliable sources.
By Lieng
Lern
On 12 May 2008, Muse Township Peace and Development
Council (TPDC) led by its chairman U Nyunt Harn ordered novices and monks to ask
for alms from the people to help the cyclone victims. A car using a loudspeaker
followed 70-80 monks and novices.
On 13 May 2008, municipal officials led
by Myo Min Soe went to Namkham's market to collect money from sellers. Each shop
had to pay Kyat 2,000 ($1.6). There were 1,300 shops.
"We would like to
donate, but we don't need force," said a seller who wishes to be anonymous.
Quarter headmen used loudspeakers carried by cars to call for donations
in cash or clothes, said the sources.
They also exhorted the people to
give donations to victims at the market corner.
"No one wanted to give
money to the junta officials, because they had tricked us during the charter
referendum and also threatened us to support their draft constitution," said a
villager.
Cyclone Nargis hit Burma on 2-3 May. At least 100,000 people
were believed to have been killed and millions homeless.
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