Buthidaung, Arakan Stat: The Light Infantry Battalion, or LIB No.535 in Buthidaung has been collecting toll from villagers since the last four years, according to a village elder.
The army has been collecting toll tax from Loung Chang, Inn Chaung Badana village tract, Mee Gyaung Gaung Swe (Kurkhali Para, Raung Para and Phesabor Para) village tract in Buthidaung Township. Rohingya and Chakma communities live in these village tracts.
The army has been collecting Kyat 5,000 per acre of thatch field and two Tans (one Tan= 40.9 kg) of paddy per acre where villagers grew paddy in summer with natural water. The army has been collecting rice and money as well from the beginning of January 2008.
The thatch fields are grown in the forest, which are cleared by villagers and has no connection with the army.
A Chakma villager said, "The soldiers are collecting rice and paddy since four years as their salaries are not enough to support their families. So, they collect money from villagers by any excuse".
The Burmese Army, police, Burma's border security force (Nasaka), Sarapa or Military Intelligencewqe, Mayaka (Township Peace and Development Council-TPDC) and District PDC officials have been collecting money from villagers by various means to support their families, said a trader from Buthidaung town.
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
