Myanmar Spring Chronicle – July 18 Viewpoint:
MoeMaKa (Published July 19, 2025)
“Service fees, taxation, and resistance war funding”
BBC Burmese recently reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been collecting “fees” from villages around Kandaw (near Pakokku–Gangaw road) in Pale Township, Sagaing Region — shortly after seizing a local police outpost during an armed clash.
According to the report, villagers in the area were informed that each household should contribute 20,000 to 30,000 kyats. A member of the local administration (People’s Administration Committee) was cited as confirming villagers had reported the demand.
The PLA has not yet responded to BBC’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, TNLA’s senior military leader, Brigadier General Tar Pone Kyaw shared the post on social media and commented,
“Who’s funding this revolution, then?”
Public reaction & terminology debate
The report drew criticism from Spring Revolution supporters for the use of the word “ဆက်ကြေး” (saikyei) — “protection fee” — which they argue carries a connotation used by the military council and mischaracterizes the resistance movement’s financial survival needs.
Key context
Armed resistance groups, especially in the Bamar-majority Dry Zone like PLA, rely on various sources for funding:
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Donations from the public and diaspora (which are now declining),
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Resource revenues (like gold, timber),
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Checkpoint collections (border or inter-town),
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Occasional taxation in controlled areas.
Because most resistance groups lack long-term territorial control, they often rely on village-based fundraising or levies, sometimes with little regulation or transparency. This raises trust issues and allegations of misconduct.
Conclusion
The translation highlights a growing concern:
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Armed resistance groups (like PLA) are struggling to fund operations as public donations decrease.
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In response, they are turning to direct village collection, which can be seen as coercive or burdensome.
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Critics warn that unregulated “taxation” can undermine civilian trust and damage the revolution’s legitimacy.
The central tension:
How to fund a people’s war without alienating the people?