Military corruption in fuel exposed following hike in price

The sudden hike in prices of fuel by 500 percent this week by the Burmese military junta in the country has created a strange conflict of interest in Mon State because people used to buy fuel hoarded by the Southeast Military Command at a lower price, a source said.

Army officers of the Southeast Command are known to stock up on fuel collected from the government energy department for use in the barracks. But instead of using the fuel in the barrack they used to sell it to the people, said a source close to the army.
The Southeast Command has been at this racket for a long time with out any hitches. Now because of the sudden rise in fuel prices, the army command is in a jam, he added.

“We gave them 300,000 kyat (about US $ 240) as part payment in advance for 10 barrels of fuel before the price went up but now they cannot sell to us and are also unable to give back 300,000 kyat they took as advance”, said the source in Moulmein .

Many people in Moulmein (Mawlamyine) Town paid a deposit to Southeast Command for buying fuel and are now unable to get back the money or get the fuel. They are also unable to complain to the Southeast Command.

Not only is Southeast Command selling fuel but also many energy departments like the shipping department and the government petrol stations in Mon State are selling fuel to people illegally.

At government stations petrol prices jumped from 1,500 Kyat a gallon to 2,500 Kyat (US $ 1.17 to 1.95). Diesel prices jumped from 1,500 Kyat to 3,000 Kyat. In the market the prices have doubled to 8,000 Kyat for diesel and petrol.

People who have licensed cars and motor cycles are allowed to buy fuel from government stations at a lower price. For example, a motorbike owner is allowed buying two gallons of fuel from the government stations.