Goods from Burma pile up on Indo–Burma border
November 27, 2007 - The ban on import of goods from Burma by Mizoram state in India on November 19 has hit traders hard. Traders with cargo from Burma arrived along Tio River on the Indo-Burma border trade road No (2) but were unable to enter Mizoram.
Zokhuamawi (Burma side) on the bank of Tio river, Indo-Burma border. (Photo - khonumthung)
The goods from Burma transported by 30 jeeps are now piled up in Zokhawmawi near Tio River on the Indo-Burma border.
Around 80 traders have sought help from Lalrinzuala, a Village Council President of Zokhawthar village on the Mizoram side for permission to transport the goods into Mizoram. However, the VCP reportedly told them he could not do any thing without an agreement with the Transport Union , the Import and Export Syndicate and the VCP in Champhai district in Mizoram, according to a local newspaper.
On November 19, the Champhai District Council announced a ban on the import of goods from Burma after the growing controversy between Zokhawthar villagers and the Transport Union in Champhai over the right of ferrying goods.
"We wish the ban on importing Burmese goods s lifted soon or else the goods will be ruined," a trader from Burma on the Indo–Burma border said.
The Mizoram authorities exempted the import of goods that is included in the 22 agricultural items agreed on when a MOU was signed by India and Burma relating to border trade in 2003. – Khonumthung.
