Cross border traders decry
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 12 2016:
Some unidentified people have been forcing people engaged in cross-border trade through Moreh to get themselves enrolled as members of Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce.
One trader told media persons today that a few days back some people halted vehicles near Kondong Lairembi and gave them (traders) cards embossed with the words
"Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce" .
The unidentified men said that the cards were compulsory if one must do cross-border trade through Moreh.
There is already a chamber of commerce at Moreh.
Traders can join or stay away from the chamber.
There is no compulsion, said the trader.
But the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce said that traders should pay Rs 10,000 as membership fee and they should pay tax according to the monetary values of the goods they are transporting along Imphal-Moreh highway.
The unidentified men further said that traders who are not members of Indo-Myanmar Friendship Chamber of Commerce and who do not possess cards issued by the chamber would not be allowed to do cross-border trade any more, conveyed the trader while seeking immediate attention of the authority concerned.