Water sellers ordered to transport water to police station

IMNA
March 2, 2006

In another draconian step police authorities in Three Pagoda Pass have forced water sellers to transport water tanks to the police station for the use of the personnel and their families twice a day. This arrangement will continue till the rainy season.

The water sellers with vehicles are being forced to deliver water from the second week of February, according to one of them in the town.

“We are being forced to carry water for use in the police station. It is meant for policemen and their families for cooking and bathing. If there is excess water they spray it on the road,” he added.

Water sellers can carry ten barrels of water at a time. They buy one barrel for about 20 Baht from wells and sell it from their vehicles for about 150 Baht.

“Because of the police the sellers are losing out on 400 Baht of earnings which include oil costs. We suffer because of this,” he added.

About 17 water suppliers received the order to carry water from the police station and the fire brigade in the town. These vehicles are under the fire brigade's administration in Three Pagoda Pass.

If they disobey the order, they will be banned from selling water and would have to pay a fine.

The residents and vehicles owners of the town are always forced into transporting and funding. This morning, three 10-wheeer trucks and eight vehicle owners were forced to transport a whole battalion led by Lt- Col Tun Tun to Thanpyuyart Township , Mon State.