The Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) will, reportedly, oppose the proposed issuing of household documents to migrant citizens. The proposal is part of the government’s 100-day project.
“We won’t object on the grounds of temporary identification (ID). However, now they are including migrants in the census. This is not alright because they [migrants] will become residents in the area. Our party has decided we will submit a case at the Hluttaw and oppose the project,” said U Sai Nyunt Lwin, General Secretary of SNLD, recently.
SNLD Hluttaw representatives will submit their arguments about it at the upcoming Hluttaw session.
Similarly, on June 10, leaders from sixteen Mon associations, monks and other individuals submitted a 7-point letter to Mon State Chief Minister, urging a review of the new migrant documentation project in Mon State.
“This matter can put the national cause in danger”, said U Htun Myint, Chairman of Mudon Township’s Mon Youth Association, “This type of racism can negatively influence ethnic groups. Therefore, we urge the government to stop this activity immediately.”
The submitted 7-point letter included; 1) Since migrant workers moved into the state, peaceful stability in our area has eroded. Subsequently, crimes occur including stealing, looting, killing, drug dealing, rape and other threatening causes. 2) The migrant citizens are intruding into land and roads belonging to locals as well as trading land. These issues can cause major suffering to the locals.
According to the Mon State Government’s 100-day project, the government would provide temporary household documents to migrant workers who have resided in the state for 6 to 8 months and official household documents to the migrants who have lived in the state for 5 years or more.
At present, the population in Shan State’s major cities including Taunggyi, Muse, Tachileik, and Lashio, is comprised of more migrants from central and other parts of Burma than locals.
SNLD’s general secretary raised the question of whether this proposal was made with political intentions. Namely, because migrants are issued with household documents and are then able vote in the state.
In 2015 elections, in Shan State, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won the most votes, followed by the SNLD and thirdly, the NLD.
