Terrorist leader Soe Win ordered that in order to crack down on illegal trade, in addition to monitoring and arresting warehouses and storage facilities, and in addition to conducting field inspections and arresting and taking action in markets, he warned that Thai and Chinese consumer goods and food products should not be sold in malls, shopping centers, minimarts, and neighborhood markets unless they are imported with an official import license. The military council’s approach is that without an import license and official documents, consumer goods and food products from any foreign country cannot be sold. If they are sold, they can be prosecuted under the Import and Export Law. If they are sold, they should be sold as quickly as possible. If they are found to be Thai goods during inspections, they will be confiscated and people will be arrested. The military council has also issued official warnings to malls, shopping centers, and trading companies. This situation has become similar to the socialist era. During the dictatorship of Ne Win, all foreign goods were declared illegal and local products had to be smuggled from one place to another. If they really did what they said, the whole country would have to close down shopping malls. The people are already facing the prospect of washing their bodies with yellow soap and washing their hair with a traditional shampoo.
