Drivers in northern Shan State have said that an armed group has been demanding payment from vehicles using a road between Muse and Kutkai in northern Shan State—ethnic armed organizations deny the claim.

With vehicles unable to use that national highway between Muse and Kutkai due to clashes in the Nampukkar area, people have been traveling along the Nam Oum-Tee Ma road as an alternative route. The road also goes to Tarmohnye and Kutkai. The latter road is only accessible to small vehicles.

Ah Ti, a driver from Muse, told SHAN that an ethnic armed organization (EAO) was demanding 50,000 kyat (US$33) per car as payment for using the road since August 22. He did not name the armed group.

“An EAO is extorting money and seizing mobile phones if they see them,” another driver Ko Nyo said to SHAN.

A third driver, who spoke to SHAN under the condition of anonymity, said that the receipt for the payment he made was written in the Kachin language and had a seal affiliated with the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A). He also alleged that the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) had been collecting payments as well.

A spokesperson for the KIO, Col Naw Bu, said that this was the first he had heard of the accusations.

“I cannot confirm this. We have yet to get this information from our ground forces. We won’t deny it, but clashes are ongoing in this area. There are many armed groups in the area. Other armed groups can use the name of the KIA when extorting money on the road,” Col Naw Bu said to SHAN.

The TNLA’s spokesperson, Maj Tar Aik Kyaw rejected allegations that his organization had taken money on the road.

“Our forces haven’t been extort money on the Nam Oum-Tee Ma-Tarmohnye road,” Maj Tar Aik Kyaw, who is spokesperson of PLSF/TNLA, said to SHAN. Costs for travel have risen for people wishing to travel to northern Shan State—ground transportation from Muse to Mandalay are now more than 50,000 kyat per person.