Travel directive now requires NRC cards: Critics say, this is a new extortion tactic

March 15, 2022

HURFOM: On March 5, 2022, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population released a statement indicating that everyone traveling must show an authentic NRC (National Registration Card). No longer would supportive documents issued by the General Administration Department or a Police Station be accepted for any travel, visit or short stays and/or related business travel.

Effective April 1, 2022 everyone must instead now show an authentic NRC (National Registration Card).

Critics argue that this new order simply creates a new way for soldiers and police forces to extort money at all checkpoints.

Travelers and passengers informed HURFOM they were already being extorted by the soldiers and police forces, despite the directive not yet coming into force.

“Some travelers who wanted to visit the pagodas hired my car. At the checkpoint, the security forces told me that I needed to meet with the official as my car had too many people. When meeting with the official, I had to give 5,000 Kyat for “tea money”. I didn’t want to give it so I instead showed my driver’s license. Then, the official said nothing was wrong but they just asked for the money. So I had nothing to say but gave them what they wanted. I also saw that other cars had to pay from 1,000 to 5,000 Kyat in order to pass through the gate,” said a car driver from Southern Ye Township, Mon State.

Since the February 1, 2021 coup, travelers/passengers have routinely experienced attempts at extortion by security and police forces. Critics note the military council has failed to bring peace and stability to the country despite the many checkpoints/ security gates at all towns and cities across Burma. Many citizens note these checkpoints now serve as places where security forces are able to extort money or goods.

A young man from Kyarinnseikyi Township, in Karen state summed things up this way.

“Yesterday, one of my friends went to Mudon from Kyarinnseikyi. He was stopped by Burmese soldiers and they asked for 50,000 Kayt from him claiming his motorbike didn’t have a proper license. If he didn’t pay, he wasn’t allowed to pass the security gate. Because he was afraid of being arrested, he finally had to agree to pay 50,000 Kyat.”

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News