Checkpoints in Kutkai and Theinni (Hsenwi) townships in Muse District of Shan State are extracting extra revenue from drivers.

Since the first week of January, the amount of money collected has increased not only at the Military Council’s checkpoints, but also at the checkpoints of Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and People’s Defense Forces, some motorists and travelers said.

“ On the road from Kutkai to Theinni, there are temporary checkpoints of the Military Council, Ta’ang armed forces, KIA and PDFs. These are not permanent checkpoints, but sometimes they wait on the road and collect money while checking the vehicles” a person who used to travel on Kutkai-Theinni Road said.

Some checkpoints charge 5000 to 10,000 kyats a car. Collecting an increased amount of money from people travelling at this time, when the economy is in trouble due to the current political situations, causes an extra burden for the public, locals said.

“At the moment, it’s the time when travel is starting up again. There is not much profit left for us, as they are collecting money. They usually only ask for money without harming us. I don’t know how much money they collect from big trucks.

They usually ask for 10,000 kyats from small cars. In the past, they used to demand only 5000 kyats. Now they ask for more”, a motorist told Shan Herald.

In addition to the Military Council, some ethnic armed organizations have been collecting taxes from travelers in Shan State after the coup. The situation of traveling between Kutkai and Theinni is also not safe, locals said.