Screening of motorcycle users to be intensified

by Ni Moe Myint
Thursday, 30 July 2009 11:28

Rangoon (Mizzima) – Rangoon authorities will intensify screening of motorcycle users, including intelligence personnel. Motorcycles are banned on Rangoon roads but for select people.

Only the Military Affairs Security (MAS), Myanmar Police Force and some departmental staff are allowed to ride motorcycles in Rangoon. But because of some imposters, the authorities are registering the names and designations of each person before handing out permission.

“The advisory letters have been sent to the ministries. We shall keep a record of how many persons and who will use motorbikes among other details. Now there are many impersonators posing as departmental staff. Since we cannot distinguish between authorised bike users and those who are not, we don’t know whether to take action against them,” a senior official from the Rangoon Division Traffic Police told Mizzima.

Personnel of security agencies, mainly use motorcycles for shadowing dissidents, opposition politicians and activists.

Some civilians, close to MAS and the police misuse the permission by riding their bikes with emblems and logos of the authorised departments, according to police sources.

“Other department officials can use motorcycles during office hours only but they must wear uniforms. Moreover there are some restricted zones for the bikes. But the police and intelligence agencies can use bikes without any restriction round the clock,” a staff from Lanmadaw Township Municipal Office said.

Some members of the government backed organization the ‘Union Solidarity and Development Association’ (USDA) can be seen using unlicensed motorcycles with their organization’s logo - the lion.

The traffic police have had to tighten registration of bike users because of increasing motorcycle accidents in Rangoon.

There were 25 motorcycle accidents, which killed eight persons from January to April 2009. This figure is more than the accidents recorded in the whole of 2008, according to statistics compiled by the Rangoon Division Traffic Police Force.

There were a total of 24 motorcycle accidents which killed five persons in 2008. In 2007, there were 29 motorcycle accidents and five persons died.