Monopoly dealership, distribute MI-18
Consumers and small traders in problem

Maungdaw, Dec 22: In Maung Daw and Buthedaung townships of Arakan state, Military Intelligence (MI)-18 is giving out sole-dealer- permit of one commodity to one individual, creating monopoly on the market that hit hard the consumers and other businessmen, according to our correspondent.

General Consumers are compelled to buy daily necessities at the high price from monopoly-dealers who have got sole-agent permit from the MI-18.

A primary teacher,” We general people suffer the worst. All the consumers goods including rice to chilli are given to sole agents respectively, “one agent, one commodity,” basis. For example in our market area, sole agent of edible oil dealership was given to Maung Ba, that means, only Maung Ba shall buy and sell this commodity, except him, none shall deal that commodity. As a result, he plays the market; fixation of price depends on him, at his will. But you see, he also had to manage to obtain his monopoly dealership by giving huge amount of money to MI-18 personnel. That’s why he is selling things at the price he wishes to.” explained to the reporter.

At Buthedaung and Maung Daw consumers goods including toiletries to alcohol are given sole agents to different persons as monopoly dealers.

Another grievant says, “ in our market, rice, edible oil, chilli, onion even gas lighter filling also given to sole agents. After this monopoly system, for filling a gas lighter costs kyat 25, this before it was kyat 10.”

The report further says that price of a drum of Alcohol making chemical agent called BEDC at Maung Daw is kyat 1,50,000 and in Sittwe kyat 92,000. The dealers have to pay kyat 20,000 to MI-18 for transporting one drum of that chemical each, from Sittwe to Maung Daw, even if he is a permitted dealer by MI-18.

From our reliable sources, it is gathered, that the MI-18 are distributing monopoly dealerships to the individuals of the markets of towns and villages by taking huge amount of money to drive fund for MI-18 based at Buthe Daung.