A fuel tanker belonging to the Kyaw San fuel company was set on fire between Kalai Padaw and Ywathar Aye villages on the Ye-Thanbyuzayat highway in Mon State’s Thanbyuzayat Township, following a tax payment dispute, according to a spokesperson from the New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship), also known as NMSP-AD.
The incident occurred around 8 a.m. on April 5, when the tanker was traveling from Thanbyuzayat toward Ye. The NMSP-AD reportedly stopped the vehicle to negotiate taxation issues.
According to Nai Gongsakar, a spokesperson for the NMSP-AD, the Kyaw San fuel company had repeatedly refused to pay the local territory transit tax and also responded carelessly when contacted by phone. As a result, the group decided to offload the fuel tanker in a safe area and burn the vehicle’s front section.
“We’ve tried contacting the company’s owner to discuss paying around 5 million kyats per year, but they ignored us and showed no willingness to cooperate. So, our members decided to send a message, we offloaded the fuel safely, dismantled the truck’s engine section to make it unusable, and then the front part caught fire during the process. We take responsibility for the action,” said Nai Gongsakar.
He also rejected claims that the group demanded 20 million kyats from the company, clarifying that the annual fee requested was 5 million kyats.
The truck’s driver, Ko Thu Rain Win (45), his wife Daw Naw Say Phaw, and their two young children, along with assistant driver Ko Aung Myo Tun (30), were reportedly not harmed or detained and were released safely.
Nai Gongsakar further explained that taxing vehicles based on their business type is part of NMSP-AD’s standard operations within territories controlled by anti-military revolutionary forces.
“This is our normal procedure. When we operate in resistance territory, we collect taxes from vehicles passing through whether small or large depending on what they’re transporting. Everyone pays,” he added.
The fuel tanker was reportedly carrying 14,000 liters of diesel, 7,000 liters of premium diesel, and 14,000 liters of gasoline. After being stopped, it was taken to the direction of Weh Khami village by NMSP-AD members, who allegedly took the fuel. As of this morning, the tanker was still seen abandoned near Weh Khami village, according to local sources.
Additionally, the Mon State Revolutionary Force (MSRF), which is also active in the area, issued a statement on April 6, clarifying that it was not involved in the incident.
The Ye-Thanbyuzayat section of Union Highway No. 8 is frequently patrolled by anti-junta revolutionary forces, who routinely inspect vehicles as part of their control over the area, residents said.
