Indo-Burma border trade mired in controversy
By admin • Dec 6th, 2007 • Category: World NewsKhonumthung News - To break the monopoly of a trade union in Mizoram in transporting goods from Burma to India’s northeast state, locals in Zokhawthar village halted a procession of trucks heading to pick up cargo from the neighbouring country.
On December 4, the trade union based in Champhai district in Mizoram despatched 60 trucks to Tio stream to pick up goods from Burma stacked on the Indo-Burma border trade road No (2) despite the Champhai District Council having issued an order banning import of goods from Burma for two months from November 19.
However, locals from Zokhawthar in Mizoram state who have been demanding the rights to transport goods from Burma to Mizoram in India stopped the trucks. Zokhawthar locals are not allowing any trucks to cross Zokhawthar to Tio.
The police and members of Youth Mizo Association (YMA) from Champhai rushed to the Zokhawthar to resolve the problem between the locals and trade union members.
Yesterday, the police, YMA members and Zokhawthar locals held a meeting to discuss the right to transport goods, but apparently, the issue has not been resolved.
“There is no agreement yet from yesterday’s meeting. We will continue the meeting today”, a local in Zokhawthar said.
Impatient traders from Burma have hired carriers at high costs and are smuggling the goods from Tio to Aizawl.
“Instead of losing their investment by keeping the goods for such a long period on the border, some traders are trying alternative means to smuggle their cargo to Aizawl. I think, most of the goods have already been transported through foot paths to Champhai”, said a trader from Burma in Aizawl.
A local who attended the meeting in Zokhawthar said there is a hint to lift the ban on transporting goods from Burma to Mizoram, “The situation will continue like this for this week, but I don’t think the ban will carry on for two months as stipulated”.
The trade union from Champhai district charges Rs. 2,000 from passenger buses but the charges they collect from trucks that transport goods on the 29 kilometre stretch from Tio to Champhai road ranges between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 12,000.
