Transporters' strike chokes Indo-Myanmar border trade

Imphal, May 09: Indo-Myanmar border trade has been severely affected following the indefinite transport strike called by the Imphal-Moreh Road Transporters' Joint Action Committee on the Imphal-Moreh Road from today protesting the imposition of hefty vehicle "taxes" by UGs. Goods and items worth several crores of rupees are transacted daily at Moreh and its adjoining Myanmar town, Namphallong. Plying of both passenger and goods vehicles came to a screeching halt on the Imphal-Moreh road as a result of the strike. Trucks and auto-rickshaws have not been allowed to ply. The JAC has made stern warning to vehicle owners not to violate the blockade. The JAC has decided to expand the strike along the Imphal-Jiribam Road (NH 53), Imphal-Ukhrul Road, Imphal-Dimapur Road (NH 39) and Imphal to Chandel if the authorities concerned fail to take necessary steps. Petro products transporters have agreed to support the strike, said sources. The daily tax demand of the underground outfit were made to owners of passenger buses, Tata Sumos and Maruti vans and State Government offices located in Chandel district. Representatives of the transporters JAC told mediamen today that the NSCN (IM) under the signature of one Lt Solomon, tax collector of AC Bn served separate tax notices to three transport bodies operating on the route 11 days back. The outfit started imposing the taxes from the date of issue of the demand though the transporters received the notice only yesterday, he said. The transporters bodies include the Imphal-Moreh NH 39 Road Bus Association, Imphal Moreh Tata Sumo Association, NH 39 and Imphal Moreh Van Association. More than 200 vehicles are servicing under the three associations. Buses are required to pay Rs 1700 per trip (Rs 500 for Imp to Moreh and Rs 1200 for Moreh to Imp), Tata Sumos and Maruti vans Rs 900 (Rs 300 for Imp-Moreh and Rs 600 for Moreh-Imp) per trip. The outfit asked the transporters to deposit the money with the Forest Department office at Pallel, the JAC member said. Forest officials denied having knowledge on the matter. Police said they are investigating into the tax demands made to the transporters. The representative said the NSCN (IM) threatened of stern action against the transporters if their demands were not met. It further warned that respective presidents of the associations will be held responsible for any untoward incident. He disclosed that before the new demand came, NSCN (IM) has been collecting annual and monthly taxes of Rs 5000 and Rs 1500 from buses and Rs 3000 and Rs 1000 from Tata Sumos and Maruti vans respectively. The UKLF has been levying taxes of Rs 3000 annually and Rs 750 monthly from each bus and Rs 1500 and Rs 300 respectively from Tata Sumos and vans. Besides some other UG groups have also been demanding taxes, he added. The transporters leader alleged the Hill Tribal Council, Moreh takes Rs 10 as entry fee from the vehicles. All the buses and Tata Sumos and vans leaving Moreh need to pay Rs 150 and Rs 10 respectively to the council. Besides the Moreh Municipal Council charges Rs 10 from the light vehicles and Rs 100 from buses, he said adding the buses have to pay another Rs 50 per trip to the Excise Post without receiving any receipt. These taxes have become too much of a burden to them, he added. Sources said following the decision, all buses and other vehicles which have reached Moreh have been made to return to Imphal. The decision to resort to the strike was taken during a meeting attended by representatives of the Moreh Route Bus Owners Welfare Union, Moreh-Imphal Jeep and Tata Sumo Taxi Service Welfare Association, Indo-Myanmar Road Transport Co-operative Society, Indo-Myanmar, Road Self Employed Van Owners and Drivers Association and Unemployed Youth Service Association. Meanwhile, the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union has supported the strike and threatened to call a statewide stir if the matter is solved at the earliest.