Mainichi: Burmese decry overseas t

[carol@xxxxxxx]

Mainichi Daily News, Wednesday, August 19, 1998

Burmese Decry Overseas Taxation at Embassy

        Burmese pro-democracy activists have been boycotting paying income
tax to the Burmese Embassy in Tokyo, saying Rangoon's taxing on overseas
Burmese is nothing less than exploitation.
        Members of the Joint Action Committee started last Friday to
distribute leaflets in front of the embassy to urge Burmese residents not to
pay tax.  The boycott will continue until the second week of September, said
Kyaw Kyaw Soe, a member of the committee.
        Burmese residents in Japan are expected to pay 10 percent of their
income, or 10,000 yen per month, whichever is higher, to the Burmese Embassy
in Tokyo.  Burma is one of a handful of countries that taxes its citizens
living and working abroad.
        Soe said that only 2,000 out of about 8,000 Burmese residents in
Japan pay taxes to Rangoon regularly, but added that those who don not pay
tax are often refused all consular services by the embassy.