New NRC card project makes people recall life under the decades of military rule

March 8, 2022

HURFOM: On March 5, 2022, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population released a statement that starting April 1, 2022, they would no longer accept recommendation letters or documents (issued by the General Administration Department) for travel, visits or short stays and related business purposes. Instead, everyone must show an authentic NRC (National Registration Card).

The military junta justified their February 1, 2021 coup based on a claim made by Min Aung Hlaing, the General in charge of the military council. He claimed the 2020 election was fraudulent because 4.6 million people did not have NRC cards.

The Ministry of Immigration then introduced the Pan Khin Project. From May 5, 2021 to November 3, 2022, the junta was to make and deliver 3.8 million new NRC cards.

However, the project has not been successful for some residents.

“During the “100-day project”, I went to the immigration office to apply for a NRC card for my younger brother. They said we needed recommendation letters (from the police/ the Ministry of Home Affairs) stating that we are not linked to any terrorist activities. We did not want to go to the police station, so we gave up on the application. We’ve heard nothing from the Pan Khin Project,” said a resident from Thanbyuzayat Township

Internal travel has been made increasingly difficult since the coup. Security has been tightened across Burma and the junta’s forces have been arresting many suspects on a daily basis.

“We will check on the way (to our destination) and again on the way back home. Life now resembles the times during the military rule (before the 2010 election). We are worried what will happen next,” said a shop owner in Mudon.

A rice merchant from Mudon Township, said, “Now the authorities check everyone for their NRC cards. It looks like we’re going back to the military junta era before the 2010 election. Explosions happen frequently and people are being killed often. Now another disappointment is coming.”

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News