Local people are facing difficulties in the TLNA and MNDAA-controlled areas of northern Shan State due to the high tax collection by these groups. It is known that grocery stores in TLNA-controlled areas are demanding 500,000 MMK per month as tax. 500,000 MMK per month is too much. If every shop pays the same rate, the prices of basic goods will increase. At a time when goods are scarce due to the blockade of trade routes, such illegal tax collection is seriously affecting the local people. These shops did not pay taxes under the former military council. Although taxes are collected to meet military expenses, they should be done fairly.
In the MNDAA-controlled area, a tax of 500,000 MMK per truck is also being collected for fuel trucks. It is incomprehensible to increase the tax in an area where fuel is scarce. It seems that ethnic armed groups are only interested in collecting taxes after gaining control of a large area.
