KIA, TNLA extort money from vehicles

Nay Pyi Taw November 23

Coordinated armed groups comprised of KIA and TNLA soldiers extorted money from vehicles in Kutkai and Muse in northern Shan State, according to the State Counsellor Office’s Information Committee yesterday. 

The combined force of the KIA and TNLA numbering about 200 took hold of both sides of an uphill portion of the Pyihtaungsu Expressway at milestone 338/3 near the village of Auknamphatlon, 16 miles north of Kutkai, at about 3:30 pm on Monday by blocking the road with a 22-wheeled oil boxcar placed across the highway.

They collected money as part of a protection scheme ranging from Ks30,000 to Ks50,000 per vehicle, and left for Kaungkha and Manpyein villages.

At about noon on the same day, the Myanmar Police Force arrested Zaw Shan, alias Marti, 29, a member of KIA regiment 3, who had been sent to the Theinthanchi Construction Company to deliver a letter informing the company to pay extortion money to the group.

The Myawady Daily