From this month on, vehicles from China that come to Muse, a small town in Northern Shan State at China-Burma border have been charged for staying overnight in Muse, according to SHAN’s source in Muse.

The charge is 100,000 Kyat (aboutUS$120) per month and 50,000 Kyat (US$60) per week. This is directly charging from Muse’s administration office, a Chinese car owner in Muse who requested to remain in anonymous told SHAN.

“We didn’t have to pay before but now we have to pay the money at administration office if we stay overnight. I think the office staffs are just taking money for themselves”, he said.

Businessmen and Burma government staffs in Muse use Chinese vehicles which are registered under the Chinese government because Muse is just cross to the China city Jiegao.

“Muse’s residents including businessmen and government staffs are using Chinese cars. There are about 500 cars crossing China-Burma border each day”, a Chinese man who use to drive his car to Muse said.

On top of monthly and weekly charge for overnight staying vehicles they are also charged 5 Yuan (660 Kyat) for per entry to the border gate and 15 Yuan (1980 Kyat) for surety deposit and also 300 Kyat for extra payment, he said.

There are 3 gates at between Muse and Jiegao. Customers’ vehicles are passing through Sin Phyu and Mong Wain gates and now Sin Phyu gate charges 3 per cent for tax revenue on each product. This taxation was recently initiated by Shan State government.