Explosion kills officer at Burma's Muse checkpoint

 A Burmese immigration officer died Friday following an early morning explosion at a gate located on the edge of Muse's 105-Mile special trade zone in Shan state.

Located opposite the Chinese city of Ruili, multicultural Muse is one of Burma's most important trading hubs with its northern neighbor.

In addition to fatally wounding an immigration officer, the 5 am explosion also injured five other people, according to a resident of Muse who spoke on condition of anonymity.

No group or individuals have taken responsibility for the bombing.  It remains unknown if the blast was related to fighting that is currently taking place in northern Shan and neighboring Kachin states.

Gate infamous for blatant corruption
For many years officials at the gate where the explosion occurred have openly sold Burmese national identity cards to Chinese citizens who want to work and do business in Burma. Informed sources tell the Kachin News Group that $4,500 is the current going rate Chinese business people must pay to obtain Burmese papers.