November 3, 2022
Colonel Nawbu, spokesman for the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), has warned the public to be careful when being asked to pay taxes in the name of the KIA in northern Shan State.
The KIO/KIA spokesman said this when asked by The Shan Herald about the collection of taxes and protection money under the name of the KIA more than a year after the military coup in Tangyan Township in northern Shan State.
“Tangyan is very far from us and I don’t know the details about collecting taxes in the name of KIO/KIA yet. But I think they are swindling in the name of KIO/KIA. We do not have troops there. People need to be more vigilant,” Colonel Nawbu said.
On the night of November 1, gas stations in Tangyan, including Sein Pan gas station, received the so-called phone calls from KIO/KIA members threatening them to pay taxes.
“They said they were from the KIO/KIA tax department. They demanded MMK 50 million for the gas station, and a receipt for this number was sent through Viber. They demanded MMK 50 million for the gas station and MMK 10 million for the stores to be transferred through KPay. And they threatened that the amounts would be even higher if they had to come in person,” said a Tangyan man who did not want to be named for security reasons.
So far, more than three gas station owners, including some shop owners, in downtown Tangyan have faced similar tax collection threats.
Currently, Tangyan residents have informed regional officials of the Shan State Progress Party/Shan State Army (SSPP/SSA) about the tax collection threats in the namne of the KIO/KIA.
SSPP spokesman Major Phone Han told The Shan Herald that it was not plausible for KIO/KIA members to collect taxes in the township under their control.
“We have the principle of alliance between the two sides. We have not heard anything about KIO/KIA collecting taxes in Tangyan. It must be a fraudulent action that abuses the name of the army. We wouldn’t accept if the KIO/KIA came here to collect taxes. There is no reason for them to collect taxes in Tangyan,” he said.
A Tangyan woman told the Shan Herald it was difficult to confirm the case because the person who made the call did not speak with a Kahin accent.
“The person did not speak with Kachin accent. I think they are scammers. There is no reason for KIA members to collect taxes in downtown Tangyan. The public no longer knows who to trust. There is no security anymore,” the woman said.
The public should remain vigilant on this issue while KIA/KIO officials investigate. It is not a good sign that certain people are trying to collect taxes in the name of KIO/KIA, and it can lead to problems between ethnic peoples.
“This should not be done. I don’t know if they want to attack the organisation or have selfish interests. They shouldn’t do that. Our frontline officials have started the investigation. I ask the public and the media to cooperate in this matter,” Col. Nawbu said.
Sent by The Shan Herald.