'We have to give them so much that our stomachs are empty of food': the hidden impact of Burma's arbitrary & corrupt taxation

Governments require resources to provide goods and services, such as health care, education, roads, bridges, electricity, water and sanitation. The majority of government revenue is typically raised by; taxing people and their businesses, charging fees for services supplied by a government, aid funds and revenue from the country’s natural resources. People all over the world are dissatisfied and complain about the taxes they are obliged to pay. However, as this report shows, the taxation that occurs in Burma is of such an arbitrary, corrupt nature and negatively affects Burma’s economy and its people’s livelihood on such a level, that it is grossly and systematically impacting on their human rights. The military has transformed taxation from a routine and legitimate function of government into extortion and a tool of repression. This destructive taxation system, with its lack of basic public provisions, has crushed the people’s capacity to stand up against the state of Burma as their need to focus on survival prevails.