VPDC chairmen reluctant to collect student distinction taxes

July 28th, 2010

Hong Dein, IMNA : Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) chairmen around Mon State complain that they are uncomfortable taxing village residents for funds that are awarded to Mon State high school graduates who have gained distinction on their 10-standard exams in 2010.

VPDC chairmen in Mudon Township reported to IMNA field reporters that the Burmese military regime has ordered Township authorities to each collect 4 million kyat to fund awards given to honored students. Mon State contains 10 townships and two sub-townships; VPDC chairman have been ordered to collect award taxes from villager residents and submit the funds to township authorities by today, July 28th.

A VPDC chairman from Mudon township explained, “Each township has to pay 4 million kyat to Mon State authorities for awards for the high school students”. He claimed that villages in Mudon Township were expected to submit between 80,000 and 100,000 kyat per village to township authorities.

VPDC chairmen around Mudon Township informed an IMNA field reporter that they were forced to collect the distinction taxes from citizens in their villages –between 2,000 and 3,000 kyat per household –despite the fact that they were reluctant to do so.

The Mudon Township VPDC chairman quoted above explained that he and his fellow chairmen felt embarrassed about collecting the distinction taxes from village residents because villagers are already required to submit funds for a wide variety of purposes. These include funds used to support security patrols for the Kanbauk – Myaingkalay gas pipeline that runs through Mon State, forced labour costs, and village militia taxes.

“We have a feeling of discomfort about collecting money frequently from villagers”, this chairman explained.

According to a high school teacher from Thanbyzaryat Township, a visit from Southeast Command (SEC) Commander Thet Naing Win is expected near the end of July, the same time of year when he visited Mon State high schools in 2009. Thet Naing Win will distribute prizes to students who gained distinction in four or more of their subject exams. This teacher reported that in the year 2010, four students passed with six distinctions (otherwise known as full distinction), thirty-seven students passed with five distinctions, and 141 students passed with four distinctions. Schools in which over 50 percent of exam takers passed all of their exam will be, as in previous years, also be awarded a prize of 1 million kyat.