Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Nam Khan Residents Forced To Contribute For VIP Tour

 
by Myo Gyi
Monday, 28 January 2008 00:00

The Burmese military junta functionaries stop at nothing to fleece people. Authorities are coercing residents in Nam Khan to contribute money at the rate of Kyat 2,000 per household to spend in the inaugural ceremony of Nam Khan suspension bridge across the Shweli River. The ceremony will be attended by SPDC brass from Naypyidaw.

The new bridge will be opened on February 12 by SPDC brass. The local authorities collected money from the residents forcibly to spend in welcoming and entertaining the VIPs and for the inaugural ceremony.

"The Township Peace and Development Council Chairman said Kyatt. 2,000 must be collected per household. They said the Prime Minister will come and open the bridge. The local authorities and local organizations will welcome the VIPs and they need money for dresses to be used for the function," a resident told Mizzima.

Nam Khan PDC Chairman said at the meeting with Ward and Village level PDC Chairmen that the required fund is at the rate of Ks. 2,000 per household. It must be collected from their respective administrative zones to be used for the bridge inaugural ceremony, sources close to local authorities said.

The local authorities have arranged to summon 50 USDA members, 30 women from pro-junta Federation of Women and Maternity and Child welfare, 30 members from fire brigade and Shan and Lisaw ethnic races from each ward and village to the Shweli suspension bridge opening ceremony, this local resident added.

"Yes, they are collecting money for USDA uniforms. But they haven't yet said anything to the people in the township to welcome the VIPs. I think they will summon and inform the people from wards and village at short notice just before the function," another resident said.

The news has been circulated among the local people saying that SPDC Chairman Thein Sein will come to the opening ceremony and about 10,000 people will be summoned to attend the function.

The new Shweli suspension bridge is 600 feet long, 24 feet wide and 35 feet high. It is situated on Nam Khan – Bahmo highway, built near Mang Wing village in 2003, three miles from Nam Khan.