Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 7 will start running the first KNU highway express bus route when its bus company, Doe Meik Swe, starts operating a service between Myawaddy, Rangoon and Pathein.
The Doe Meik Swe bus company is a subsidiary of the Moe Ko San Company which is owned by KNU Brigade 7.
Doe Meik Swe’s operation manager, Saw Truman said: “We have already rented the gate in Pathein for this bus line, [but] we will only start our operation in March due to some work requirements,”
He said that the company aims to provide secure and easy transport for passengers, as there has been an increase domestic travel since 2012 and Karen people living in border areas will be able to travel more.
The Moe Ko San Company applied for a licence to run a bus company and submitted the relevant documents to the district and state transport departments in May 2015. The company was then granted a licence in mid-December 2015.
Since 24 January Doe Meik Swe has been running a service from Myawaddy to Yangon and from Myawaddy to Taungoo using eight Hiace 15-seater buses.
The fare from Myawaddy to Yangon is 15,000 kyats, from Myawaddy to Taungoo it is 13,500 kyats and from Myawaddy to Pathein the fare will be 20,000 kyats, according to Doe Meik Swe officials.
The KNU and Burmese government signed an initial bilateral ceasefire agreement on 12 January 2012. Subsequently, the Moe Ko San Company was founded in August 2013 to support the relatives of members of KNU Brigade 7.
The Moe Ko San Company has offices in Myawaddy and Hpa-An. As well as having a bus company it also has interests in home supplies, electrical supplies and solar power showrooms.
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
