Protesters have condemned toll fees charged by the civilian People’s Administration Organization in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region.
Protests at the Bo Yine checkpoint on the Sagaing-Shwebo road have blocked the Wetlet-Shein Ma Kar and Wetlet-Pauk Kan roads.
A protester told The Irrawaddy: “They charge 15,000 kyats for a can of fuel. We’re protesting at the cost. These rates have lasted over a year. We’re not refusing to pay taxes, we’re just asking them to lower the rate to 5,000 kyats.”
At the gate, cargo trucks pay fees based on the goods transported. Cars are charged at least 5,000 kyats with some paying up to 30,000 kyats. Protesters are demanding a reduction in the fees.
Residents say fuel tankers and other trucks have to drive to the east of the Irrawaddy River through the Bo Yine gate in Wetlet Township to reach northern Mandalay Region, upper Sagaing and Kachin State as the main road from Mandalay to Kachin is blocked in Madaya Township.
A resident said: “That route is the main fuel corridor. Since the Madaya road from Mandalay is blocked, people are detouring from Sagaing. Vehicles cross the river to reach Mandalay Region. Trucks, depending on the load, can pay up to 2 million kyats. The drivers are angry.”
A protester said no member of the People’s Administration Organization has visited the protest to resolve the issue.
“If they don’t come, we will go to the tax office. They must remove the Bo Yine gate and lower the fuel charges,” a protester said.
The Irrawaddy could not reach the People’s Administration Organization or People’s Defense Organization in Wetlet for a comment.
The civilian National Unity Government (NUG) has officially authorized two tax checkpoints in Wetlet Township but residents and resistance fighters report many other unofficial checkpoints.
A Wetlet People’s Defense Force (PDF) member said: “A fair and acceptable tax system that does not burden the people is needed. In Wetlet there are too many toll gates. Several defense groups are also collecting excessive taxes. There is growing dissatisfaction.”
Wetlet Township has PDFs and other resistance groups from Shwebo, underground units from Mandalay and other forces.
Residents say the situation is complicated by disputes between the groups, involving arrests and killings, as well as the use of weapons to threaten civilians. They added that the NUG has not resolved the escalating issues.
