Unlicensed Wa cars run free

War

Unlicensed Wa cars run free

Since hostilities began between the Shan State Army 'South' and the United Wa State Army's 171st Regional Army on 13 March, Rangoon has for all practical purposes allowed all of its vehicles without proper registration, commonly known as "withouts", to traverse the public roads unchecked, report sources from Mongton, opposite Chiangmai.

As for other private owners of illegal cars who failed to hand them over to the authorities by 31 March, a seven year jail term and a fine for breaching import law face them, reports Myanmar Times, 4-10 April 2005.

Since 30 March up to 18 April, unlicensed cars that were driven to Kengtung and on to Taunggyi were attacked at least 5 times by unknown armed bands. Many former owners express jubilance. "I think it is the Shan State Army (of Col Yawdserk)," said a businesswoman in Tachilek who had lost 2 automobiles herself. "They should have blasted all of them."

The SSA has denied responsibility for the attacks.

Some however believe the attacks were stage-managed by local authorities so they could overstate the numbers of damaged cars and hold back some of the choice vehicles.

The government crackdown on unregistered cars began on 30 October, 12 days after former prime minister Gen Khin Nyunt, who had allegedly authorized the procurement of illegal cars, was ousted.