The lion's share of the tax levied at 3 border crossings with China goes to the armed ethnic groups that have concluded ceasefire pacts with Rangoon, say border 75% of the border tax collected by the newly formed Nakatha unit at Kambaitti (Kachin State) is for the National Democratic Army-Kachin (Special Region #1) of Sakhong Ting Ring. "The same goes for Laiza (Kachin State) for Kachin ndependence Organization and Chin Shwehaw (Shan State) for Kokang," said a monitoring source.

Incoming and outgoing fees are 2 yuan each way for each person, 2 yuan for motor vehicles and 25 yuan for cargo trucks. ($ 1 = 8 yuan) (boxun.com)

The Nakatha (Border Commerce), founded on 11 January to replace the disbanded Nasaka, formed by Gen Khin Nyunt during his tenure, comes under the Economy and Commerce Ministry, which in turn coordinates between its immediate superior the Prime Minister and the Trade Policy Council, headed by Vice Senior General Maung Aye.

The Nakatha units themselves are made up from 5 components: Customs, Immigration, People's Police, Myanma Economic Bank and Internal Taxation. One result of its is a huge overlap among different departments that in turn results in confusion. "It's a big mess right now", one officer was quoted as saying. "I'm not sure whether we'll be able to sort it out."

One pleasant outcome of the "concoction" is that the new setup is "more honest" than other government agencies. "That won't last long," assured a businessman in Tachilek. "When the Nasaka was first established in 2001, its commander Htay Naing looked and acted like a virgin. No one was able to bribe him. But the space under his bunk, by the time he was taken back to Rangoon in chains (late last year), was said to be crammed with packets of banknotes."

Network Media Group also reported on 31 January, the business community in Myawaddy, opposite Maesod, was also having a hard time trying to bribe the newly-arrived tax collectors.

The Nakatha units have been set up in 11 border towns, according to sources: Muse, Loije, Kambaitti, Laiza and Chin Shwehaw on the Chinese border; Tachilek, Myawaddy and Kawthaung (Kawsawng) on the Thai border; Maungdaw on the Bangladeshi border; and Reed and Tamu on the Indian border.

Units on the Chinese border report to Lt-Col Hla Maw Oo. But Tachilek and Myawaddy on the Thai border each has its own head officer: Lt-Col TheinHlaing and Lt-Col Saw Hla Tun respectively.

Crossing the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge (Tachilek Maesai)Thailand One year border pass 300 baht One day border pass 40 " Outgoing fee 10 " Incoming fee 10 "Burma One year border pass 200 " One day border pass 200 kyat Outgoing fee 100 kyat (5 baht) Incoming fee 10 baht

Recent years there have emerged many casinos on Burma-side of the Sino-Burmese border.They are all run by the Chinese from Yunnan, attracting thousands and thousands of Chinese habitual gamblers from the whole China.In the Burma-side's casino ,opposite to Dehong town, there are more than 4000 employees.The rich gamblers came from Sichuan as well as the prosperous provinces Guangdong,Fujian,Zhejiang etc.

A lot of Chinese corrupt officials carrying people's money came here to play a big game.

Late August last year,Yunnan Provincial Government closed down 44 casinos on Burma-side opposite to the border-cities of Ruili,Luxi,Longchuan,Yinjiang,Nujiang etc.,arrested 8043 Chinese gamblers including 40 Government-Officials.

We admire hereby Yunnan Provincial Government very much, because this action reduces not only the gambling tendency of China, but also cuts off the border-income of Burmese junta who has been killng the people of Burma everyday till now. (boxun.com)