Traders in a spot over border road closure
March 24, 2007: The Burmese authorities in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) have closed the border road, which links Hakha and Than Tlang in Chin State to Mizoram state, India. This has hit not only traders but also local people who are facing problems in eking out their livelihood.
The authorities have ordered that action be taken if any trader crosses the border after the road was closed with effect from January 2007.
"We don't know why they closed the border road. They said it was due to the tax collectors group being absent from duty," said a local in Hakha.
Although the authorities closed the road, traders try to transport goods to Mizoram on horse back when there is no army patrol on the road late at night, he told Khonumthung News.
"We have to risk our life. We borrowed some money and we have to pay back the capital with interest. The roadblock means a lot of trouble for us. We have to bribe the police and army personnel. And we cannot escape if we meet other policemen," a trader said.
Traders, who used to cross Than Tlang to the India border road now spend days walking without enough income to sustain themselves. They don't have enough time to transport their goods so they have borrowed money and continue to be in trouble because the road has been closed. – KNG.
