CNI News

8 March 2024

If there were armed people on the border trade route, traders could not only encounter obstacles in the way of trade but also experience increases in financial costs, reportedly. 

Discussions are being made in order to re-open China-Myanmar border trade and the State Administration Council (SAC) is talking about not being any armed groups along the border trade route.

" There are gates or check points of seven or eight armed groups on the trade route including the Tatmadaw, the KIA, Shan and Ta'ang. Moreover, there are still checkpoints of armed groups that arise later. We don't have to pay not more than 10,000 at the Tatmadaw's checkpoint. But we have to pay 200,000 kyats at least at the checkpoints of so-called revolutionary organizations. So, because there are so many armed groups on the trade route, it's impossible to make commodity price fall." said U Nay Myo Win, an importer, to CNI News.

While seeing the policemen inspecting the trucks

Because of the money paid to the armed organizations, the traders had to raise the prices and sell to the customers. So, the customers only were mainly affected, said traders. The main border trade routes of Myanmar are Myawady-Thailand, Muse-China, Tamu-India and Rakhine-Bangladesh routes, and all of them are stagnant due to battles.

Trade costs are rising exponentially because armed groups are asking money on the way to Myla and Tachileik border gates in eastern Shan State as well as Kan Pite Tee and Lweje border trade gates in Kachin State.

" Regarding trade, Myanmar is depending on the border trade. As along as you can't make the border trade routes safe and smooth, it's not sure to develop within 10 years to come because Myanmar has no direct trade with Europe and the US. If the trade routes were safe and smooth, exporters would make a reasonable profit, the State's GDP would increase as well and the people can buy goods at a reasonable prices." said U San Naing, a watermelon trader, to CNI News.

While seeing trucks

Although armed groups ask money on the trade routes, any armed group didn't guarantee the security for traders and truck drivers, said truck drivers.

" If armed groups ask money, we must pay them. But no armed group guarantees for our security. No one guarantees what will happen within one mile ahead. We have to go after inquiry for our livelihood." said Ko Htet Naing, a truck driver, to CNI News.

There are Myanmar Tatmadaw, Militia, Border Guard Force, the People's Defense Force, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Arakan Army (AA) on the border trade routes of Myanmar.