Keng Tung-Taunggyi vehicles extorted of millions to repair road damages

^{By Hseng Khio Fah
13 November 2008}

“There were many places to repair on the way to Taunggyi, but they [authorities] don’t do it and they just collected us a lot of taxes for carrying many goods,” complained a car driver in Keng Tung.

In accordance with the authorities order, a truck can not load over 20,000 vises of goods. But there is no truck that follows the order, said the source.

A ten wheels truck carrying Thailand and China products had to pay about Kyat 10 million (US$7874) from the way on Keng Tung to Taunggyi.

“The fees of oil and other costs are not included yet,” said the source.

The fees being taxed were:

Keng Tung’s car station                     - K 900,000 (US$ 709)

Tong Ta checkpoint                            - K 280,000 (US$220)

Merng Peing checkpoint                     - K 500,000 (US$394)

Takaw checkpoint                              - K 1,600,000 (US$1260)

Kunghing                                               - K 800,000(US$630)

Kholum                                                 - K 150,000 (US$118)

Numsang                                               - K 400,000 (US$315)

Loilem                                                   -K-1,600,000 (US$1260)

Merngpawn authorities                      -K 70,000 (US$55)

Hopong                                                 - K 50,000 (US$39)

Taunggyi checkpoint                          - K 500,000(US$394)

Moreover, there is another tax K 30,000 (US$ 24)to pay at the Takaw-Kunghing checkpoint per year, said the source.

There are 281miles (449.6kms) from Keng Tung to Taunggyi.