ILLEGAL TRADE AND CORRUPTION ON THAI-BURMA BORDER

(News report by Banya Hongsar)

October 2003, Measot-Illegal trade, migrants and other activities seem just part of ordinary life of local people along the Thai Burma border areas. Myawaddy-Moulmein transportation is one of the most practical roads for traders during raining season. During the raining season, Three Pagodas Pass - Moulmein road is closed for over 3 to 4 months due to inaccessible road conditions. Local people from the Mon and Karen States who rely on the border trades are weary of illegal tax collection at a number of border checkpoints.

Most truck owners didn't make much of a profit during the last raining season as they are imposed with heavy illegal cash collection by Burma Army troops and other armed forces on the border route.

"We must always pay a fee to all border checkpoints and to our drivers, we net only a few thousand Kyat," complained a track owner from Moulmein. If there were more checkpoints, we would make no money, and sometimes we make only a small amount," he added.

According to the truck owner, all vehicles pay at least Kyat 18,000 to various checkpoints on the route to Myawaddy from Moulmein, the capital city of Mon State. They pay the Burmese troops, traffic police, local police force, Immigration Police (lawaka), Guards to bridges, troop of DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) and local security forces. The truck owners pay sometimes as much as Kyat 30,000 including a gas fee for one trip including return. They charge Kyat 2,500 per passenger and if they bring no goods to Moulmein the owner makes no profit. All illegal goods from Thailand are sold on Burmese soil at Myawaddy because the truck owners bringing goods to Moulmein will be punished by the authority if goods from Thailand are found in the truck.

The local traders say that recently security forces are searching through all packages and boxes. The security officers rip open the boxes with a small knife looking for explosives and other related materials. The authorities are suspecting everyone and searching for anti-government arms forces that often use the road via local traders bringing weapons inside the country.

Traffic Control Board managed by U Kyi Win, Director of the Board, monitors all trucks entering into and departing Myawaddy town, the other side of Measot, Thailand with track records. All vehicles are photographed including license number plates for security. The Board charges Kyat 200 to every vehicle for this procedure.

Recently, the Royal Thai Government and Burmese authority led by State Peace and Development Council agreed to deport illegal migrants to return home and a "Temporary Holding Centre" was set up in Myawady town.

According to Ko Soe, the truck driver, despite Myawaddy- Measot is officially opened for border trade between the two countries; local traders cannot buy and sell goods. However, members of the pro Rangoon armed group, the DKBA, ignore the order and bring in whatever they like in their trucks.

"They (DKBA) travel armed while driving their vehicles, so the government troops dare not give them trouble," says the local trader. "A few vehicles with registration by the DKBA have a better opportunity because the DKBA soldiers sit in their cars for protection", he added.

Both the New Mon State Party and the DKBA are members of cease-fire agreement camps to SPDC in Burma. They have access to border trade and other local business in the country. According to traders, truck owners who are members of DKBA have more of a chance to deal with various checkpoints than do the members of NMSP's.

Local Immigration Officers ban all girls and young women crossing to the border towns without accompanying male siblings. Two young girls who planned to visit their siblings at Myawaddy were turned back to ThanPhyu Zayat on the second week of September. Authorities assume young girls are illegal migrants to Thailand. Despite the Royal Thai Government declaration of no further legal employment status for new arrivals to Thailand, many migrants are seeking to enter Bangkok.

"They earn only Baht 50-60 a day here in Measot, but in Bangkok they can double their wage." Nai Soe Than, a Mon business based in Measot said.

Most local traders and businessmen have joined hands with the cease-fire camps to boost border trade though illegal activities. Motor vehicles crossing the border are the biggest supporters of revenue for the cease-fire camps and the Burmese troops during the dry season. Local car dealers sell used cars to Burmese traders with a common agreement on the border cross points.