Over 900 migrant households have applied to register for residency identification in Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon State, as the government plans to issue them permanent residency papers as part of the 100-day project.
The household documentation project is part of the union government’s 100-day project and primarily aimed at Barmar ethnics from Pegu and Irrawaddy divisions as well as other central regions in Burma.
“Household documents, as per the 100-day project, are issued to those who have settled from other areas. There are two kinds of household documents. One is for permanent residency and the other is for temporary residency. We only gathered a list of temporary residents. However, we will issue household documents to those who have settled here,” said U Soe Min Latt, chief of Immigration Department in Thanbyuzayat Township, in a recent interview with MNA.
The migrants in question depend on their daily wages for living, and therefore won’t be able to travel home with their Form 10. The immigration department will contact respective township immigration departments inquiring whether the migrants have their documents or whether they have lived there. If the migrants don’t have household documents but have legitimately lived in the area, the [Thanbyuzayat] Immigration Department will issue them documents, according to Thanbyuzayat Township’s Immigration Department.
“In this area, most migrants are from Irrawaddy and Pegu divisions. For example, if a family or individual from Myan Aung Township comes to live here, we then collect their records. After gathering their personal data, we contact the La-Wa-Ka office in Myan Aung Township. The call will confirm whether the migrants [from Myan Aung Township] have household documents. If they fail to display documentation, we will ask them whether they have resided. If they said yes, we will issue them documents,” said U Soe Min Latt.
On June 10, about 16 Mon associations, Mon monks and various individuals sent a signed petition letter to the Mon State Chief Minister demanding a review and withdrawal of the household documentation project.
Also, on June 20, the Mon National Party (MNP) submitted an open letter to the Mon State Chief Minister to withdraw the project in the state.
Recently, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) stated that it will report to the Hluttaw conference regarding it’s opposition to the migrant documentation project during July. The question remains as to whether this documentation program is NLD’s approach to win the elections again.
In addition, Kachin News Group reported on June 20 that on behalf of Kachin people, the Kachin National Consultative Assembly (KNCA), also known as WMR, urged the Kachin State Chief Minister to suspend issuing household documents to migrant workers and foreign settlers. This stance evolved from potential future problems regarding land ownership and instability in implementing the governments’ national peace program.
