Local residents are facing difficulties due to the increased tax collection in Hopang Township, Shan State, which is under the control of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
Locals say they are struggling with their livelihoods as taxes, including shop tax, garbage tax, and electricity tax, have been raised in UWSA-controlled Hopang Township since the end of June.
A local woman from Hopang said, “The taxes are high. We have to pay 100 yuan for garbage tax every month, just for small shops. Bigger shops have to pay even more. We have to pay other taxes as well. They collect taxes on the ground every month. We have no access to the government’s electricity and have to rely on China’s electricity.”
According to locals, officials from the Wa forces are collecting a shop tax of 100 Chinese yuan and a garbage tax of 100 Chinese yuan from shops in Hopang Township, going door to door.
Due to the high tax rates imposed by the UWSA, residents wrote to the UWSA in October requesting a reduction. By the end of November, the UWSA reduced the garbage tax from 100 to 50 yuan, but other tax rates remain high, according to local residents.
In addition, people are forced to pay higher prices for goods as they have to be transported from Panghsang and Kengtung due to a shortage of goods in Hopang Township.
Locals say that the “Wa” troops have restricted access to Kun Long and Chin Shwe Haw, areas controlled by the MNDAA, as well as to the Phaung Seik bridge.
A local woman from Hopang said, “Fuel prices have slightly increased due to a shortage of fuel. The Wa troops have closed the Phaungseik bridge, and goods are not allowed to be transported. I don’t know the situation in Kokang, but there are very few goods left in Lashio. People have to import goods from Panghsang and Kengtung. With the limited inflow of goods, commodity prices are high.”
According to locals in Hopang, many IDPs from the Lashio area have moved to UWSA-controlled Hopang and are mainly working at construction sites.
As China closed the Man Hkar border gate in Nam Tit town, controlled by the UWSA in Hopang Township, in the last week of August, the import of foodstuffs has become difficult.
Trade flows have stopped in Hopang, Pan Lon, Mong Mao, Pang Wang, and Nam Tit.
Hopang and Pan Lon, captured by the Three Brotherhood Alliance (3BHA) during Operation 1027, were handed over to the UWSA in early January.
Since June, the UWSA has established them as part of Hopang District and begun implementing its administration.
Sent by Shan News